25-05-2025
Lake stock at nearly 16%, no water cuts amid +ve forecast
Mumbai: The total water stock in the seven lakes supplying to Mumbai was 2.27 lakh million litres on Sunday, amounting to 15.75% of the required water quantum. Last year on the same date the water stock was 1.4 lakh million litres, or 9.69% of the annual requirement.
The civic body this year hasn't imposed a water cut for the city yet and said it is still monitoring the situation especially in wake of a positive monsoon outlook for the next few days. Last year, a 10% water cut was imposed on Mumbaikars from June 5 onwards due to insufficient water stock in the seven lakes. The cut was withdrawn on July 29, 2024 when water stock reached a satisfactory level.
The Maharashtra government approved the release of additional water for Mumbai from the contingency reserves of the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna dams a few months ago.
Mumbai draws its daily water from seven lakes -- Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna. During the monsoon, the catchment areas of these lakes get filled and their overall stock is equated to the actual water stock of Mumbai.
The lakes are located on the outskirts of Mumbai and in districts like Thane and Nashik. Only two of the smallest lakes, Tulsi and Vihar, are located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in the city, and provide 1-2% of Mumbai's needs.
The maximum amount, or over 50% of the city's daily water requirement, comes from Bhatsa.
According to data sourced from RTI and the Mumbai Environmental Status Report which was released last week by the NGO Praja Foundation, Mumbai faced a 15% shortfall in meeting its water demand in 2024, with a supply of 3,975 MLD against the required 4,664 MLD. —Richa Pinto
