BMC in two mind over 24-hour water supply project in Mumbai

Although the city's dream project of 24-hour-water supply took off after a ten-year-long wait, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is in two minds over celebrating it as a success. Two suburban areas of Bandra and Mulund are being supplied with water for long hours over the past two months. However, the civic body is not making an official announcement in this regard since other parts of the city are facing a severe water crisis. Also, people in Bandra and Mulund have demanded water with greater pressure rather than for longer hours.

Round the clock water supply is not a new dream for the city authority. Several political parties including the one in power, have mentioned this dream in their election agenda. After nearly five to six years of discussion, the project finally started in 2014. The initial cost of the project was estimated at Rs 300 crore and it was supposed to be completed by 2019. But, four years after the proposal, in 2018, the civic body has only been able to start a pilot project in two wards, in September. The political parties, that always come forward to take credit for the success of any project, also prefer to maintain silence in this regard.

There are mainly two reasons for the silence of political leaders and the administration. A senior civic official said, "Though we have started the pilot project in H West (Bandra west- Khar west) and T ward (Mulund), the supply lasts only for longer hours and not 24*7 as promised earlier. The other reason is if we announce the move, other parts of the city that are not getting sufficient water due to water cuts will protest over this."

"The BMC has started a pilot project in our ward but, many hilly parts are not receiving enough water due to low pressure. They are forced to pay for tankers. Thus, there isn't any use of the much awaited 24*7 water supply," Asif Zakeria, Congress corporator of Bandra West, said.

Water scarcity is a problem that will last for a limited time period. But, 24*7 water supply is about better infrastructure; something important for a reliable future. We cannot relate this dream to this year's shortage or stop working towards it, senior officer from the hydraulic department of BMC said.