Lakes full, no water worries for Mumbaikars

Mumbai may not have to face scarcity of water as two more lakes, Vihar and Tansa, are very close to the overflow mark, thanks to consistent rainfall in catchment areas.

Tulsi started overflowing on July 18 and Modak Sagar on July 20.

“This year, a good monsoon has given us hope as two of our lakes are already overflowing. Others will soon follow suit,” said Ramesh Bamble, chief hydraulic engineer of Brihanmumbai Municiap Corporation (BMC).

Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa are only one metre and six metres away from overflow levels respectively.

“Tansa and Vihar have touched the overflow level but have not started overflowing,” said Bamble. “The two lakes are filled to their maximum capacity,” he added.

Overflow level of Tansa is 163 metre and it is filled up to 128.63 metres.

Meanwhile, Vihar, filled till 80.11m, has an overflow level of 80.12 metres.

Upper Vaitarna, a larger lake, is less than a metre away from its overflow mark.

Lakes should collectively have about 13 lakh litres of water to ensure smooth supply during non-monsoon months. If the rains continue this way, the city would be able to get uninterrupted water supply till the next monsoon, said civic officials.