Buckling under pressure from political parties the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided not to impose the 30 per cent water cut on residential users mooted by the administration in wake of a poor monsoon. However, commercial establishments will have to put up with a 30 per cent cut in water supply. For households the 15 per cent cut in supply will continue.

The civic administration said that the 9.5 lakh million litres of stored water available will suffice till July 15 with the cuts imposed. The decision was taken on Tuesday after a two-hour debate among leaders of political parties in the BMC.

“The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena has not taken any measures to improve the water situation. Despite being a coastal city no desalinisation project or treatment of sewerage water for non-potable use has been implemented. They are only waking up to the crisis now so why should we make citizens bear the brunt of a political party’s failure,” said Congress corporator Sameer Desai who attended the meeting.

Earlier in the month corporators had forced the administration not to declare any cuts in view of the elections that took place this month. Officials said that there will be a 30 per cent cut in supply to big industries, five-star hotels, malls and multiplexes, manufacturers of mineral water and aerated drinks. For bulk consumers utilising more than one lakh mld of water, the cut will save around 150 mld. Bulk consumers consume about 500 mld.

Mayor Shubha Raul said the administration should concentrate on making optimum use of alternative sources. “Officials should concentrate on plugging leakages and avoid thefts along the open pipelines.” “We will have to focus greatly on alternative sources now. We are planning to reconsider setting up desalination plants too,” said additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar adding that work on repair of wells and digging of new borewells amounting to Rs 80 crore will be undertaken this year.