Tansa lake overflows, water cuts to continue

Following heavy rains in the catchment area, Tansa lake, one of the six major lakes which supply water to Mumbai, started overflowing this morning, officials said. Tansa lake accounts for nearly 12 per cent of the city's water supply.

"The Tansa lake started overflowing at 11am. Overflowing of this lake is a good sign for the future," said Ramesh Bamble, chief hydraulic engineer of the BMC.

However, he clarified that Mumbai may still have to wait for a few weeks before the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) revokes its decision of imposing 10 per cent water cut in the city.
"There is still time left before we revoke the water cuts imposed on the citizens. There are important lakes like Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarna that are yet to be filled completely. Only once they reach a certain level, can we think of taking back our decision of imposing water cuts," Bamble added.

A senior civic official said that unless the lake level reaches 12 lakh MLD, the decision to revoke the 10 per cent water cut will not be taken.

Earlier, a significant amount of rainfall in the catchment areas had led to the Modak Sagar dam and the Tulsi lake to overflow, which prompted the MCGM authorities to bring the water cuts down to 10 per cent from 20 per cent.
So far, water in the lakes that supply water to the city is 10.26 lakh million litres as compared to 11.83 lakh million litres in the same period.