Although winter has just begun and summer is still away, Mumbai’s water woes have already begun. For the first time, Mumbai, which found itself sufficient in its water need, is looking at its newly developing neighbour Navi Mumbai’s Municipal Corporation to quench its thirst. It will also ask the state government to allow supply of additional 100 million litres of water per day from Bhatsa dam.

The ruling Shiv Sena of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has written a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan demanding 250 mld of extra water to Mumbai, including 150 mld from Navi Mumbai and 100 mld from Bhatsa.

Water from Bhatsa accounts for 60 per cent of the total supply to BMC along with five other lakes— Tansa, Upper Vaitarna, Tusli, Vihar and Modak Sagar. Bhatsa is also used as a major source for Thane Municipal Corporation and is used for irrigation purposes in Thane and Shahapur regions.

Sena leader and standing committee chairman, Ravindra Waikar, has said Mumbai needs additional water to solve the shortage. “In all the 24 wards I have visited with municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak, corporators have strongly spoken about water shortage. Citizens are facing a lot of trouble and so are corporators who have time and again presented this issue in various committee meetings and in the general body,” Waikar said.

He added that BMC is willing to pay any amount if it is assured of 250 mld of water. “Funding is not an issue, but filling in the water shortage is,” he said. After the winter session, civic officials and corporators will meet the CM and officials from state water resources department to discuss the issue.

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