With the entire month of August passing without much rain, BMC officials are on tenterhooks again about the city’s water supply situation. This, despite the city witnessing heavy rains in the month of June and July, and the BMC claiming that the city would have ample water to last till next summer. Now, officials say that September needs to have good rainfall to improve the situation.
After heavy rains in the months of June and July, the lake levels of all the seven lakes had increased considerably. Four lakes — Tulsi, Tansa, Modak Sagar and Vihar — started overflowing in July only, and there was considerable improvement in levels of other lakes — Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna.
Civic officials were hoping that with good rainfall in August, which is considered as months of heavy rains along with July, all the lakes would start overflowing by mid-September. However, scanty rain in August seems to have derailed the plan.
“With August recording very little rains, monsoons’ good show in the first two months has been undone. Now, we needs to have a good rainfall in September so that there is enough water stock till next summer,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity. The city needs 13.5 lakh million litres of stored water to last till the end of July next year. Presently, there is 12.59 lakh million litres water in the city lakes.
A.S. Tawadia, deputy hydraulic engineer (planning and control), said a review would be taken only after September 30, when the monsoon ends officially. “There is noting to worry about, but September should have good rainfall to improve the situation,” he said.