DNA Edit: Bucketful of water – Lifting of Mumbai’s water cut leaves lot to be desired

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s decision to withdraw the 10% water cut citing good monsoon has given much needed relief to Mumbaikars. However, it is just a temporary respite as the short-sighted water policy, burgeoning urbanisation, heavy wastage of water in distribution are depriving the metropolis of its basic right to quench its thirst. Ironically, when Mumbai is undergoing rapid transformation in transport infrastructure as also in the realty sector, the maximum city loses 850 million litres daily, what is referred to as unaccounted water. On top of it, the city does not treat almost 60% of waste water. And water cuts have become a norm instead of an exception. The city had faced similar water cuts in the past, as in 2015 (25%), 2014 (20%), 2009 (30%) and 1993 (40%). 

Mumbai and the metropolitan region around it receive rainfall in plenty, and the city depends heavily on rainfall for its consumption year after year. Ironically, the city has not tapped or considered the potential of conserving every drop of rainfall. Even though BMC has made rainwater harvesting mandatory since 2002, it has been poorly implemented as the civic authorities have shown little inclination to take it seriously. On top of it, people are ready to pay for tankers instead of looking at long-term solutions like maintaining rainwater harvesting systems in societies. Authorities also turn a blind eye on exploitation of groundwater. With the newly established Jal Shakti Ministry launching Jal Shakti Abhiyan in New Delhi to make water conservation a mass movement, the time is ripe for a similar initiative in Mumbai.