Water cut till June 30, despite rise in lake levels

There’s a silver lining in the clouds that hover above Mumbai’s skyline. With the rains leading to rise in lake levels from 0.34m to 1.24m, there is hope that the water cut in force since two weeks now, would be  called off. “But not before the standing committee meeting on June 30,” said municipal chief Jairaj Phatak on Monday.

Phatak said, “The rains were not enough, so one cannot arrive at a decision like that.” This, while BMC’s Chief Hydraulic Engineer RR Hariname said that the downpour has increased levels marginally.

The water level in the 6 lakes that provide water to Mumbai city — Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa — has increased from 0.34m to 1.24m, according to the reading taken on Monday.

Modak Sagar received 79 mm of rainfall and its water level increased by 149.66 m. Tansa received 97mm rainfall and its level increased by 120.95 m. Vihar received 148 mm rainfall and its level increased by 74.25m. Tulsi received 94mm rainfall and its level increased by 135.69m. Upper Vaitarna received 94 mm and its level increased by 595.22 m. Bhatsa received 76mm and its level increased by 107.65 m.