It appears that in Mumbai, the battle has already started with the MCGM announcing that there will be a “dry day” once a week from January 15, 2010.
It is said that wars in the 21st century will be fought over water, rather than for oil or territory. It appears that in Mumbai, the battle has already started with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) announcing that there will be a “dry day” once a week from January 15, 2010.
The citizens of the city have every right to demand from the elected representatives and the bureaucracy as to how they have let the situation deteriorate to such an extent that water starvation has to be enforced. With influx into the city growing at a non-stop rate and the consequent demands having been forecast years ago, what has the administration done to take care of the possibilities which will provide succour to the citizens?
For more than two decades, people in power have been talking of desalination plants, but have never been implemented in Mumbai till date. It has been worked out that such a plant will lead to costs of Rs50 to Rs150 per 1,000 litres of water, depending on the volumes the plant is capable of producing. This works out to 5 to 15 paise per litre for the consumer.
Technology for such plants is available all over the worked and even Chennai is believed to have implemented it successfully. Why has Mumbai lagged beyond these cities in harnessing such technology?
The failure in planning is not restricted to water supply only. Whether it is in the construction of the Metro rail, generation of electricity or garbage disposal, the city seems to be doomed to undergo bitter experiences. Our city planners seem to have forgotten the old adage that “there is no need to reinvent the wheel” and rather than learn to adapt technologies already available in other parts of the world.
The tanker mafia which already rules some parts of the city must be rubbing its hands in glee. Political parties can also be expected to jump into the fray to `give the common man justice’ in his fight for water. The poor consumer is going to be a pawn in all these games, when in reality he should be the king in matters pertaining to goods and services which are given to him.
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