Mumbai facing worst water crisis in city’s history-Sep 2009

This is now the worst water crisis in city’s history (DNA) MUMBAI, India - The water crisis faced by the city this season has now spiralled into the worst-ever witnessed in the city. The monsoon has continued to be “deficient” in the catchment belts, leaving lakes barely 50% full.

With rains showing no signs of revival, the threat of sustained cuts in supply for the next 10 months now seems real.

According to statistics provided by the municipal corporation, the six lakes supply water to the city barely have 7.23 lakh million litres of water in them. This would last only until mid-February. Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar said that the city requires the lake should at least have 13 lakh million litres of water by the end of season to be “safe” until next monsoon. Same time last year, the lakes had over 11 lakh million litres of water.

BMC officials said that unless the rain gods redeemed themselves in the next few days, the situation looked grim. The met department had earlier predicted good rains in the week beginning August 10, but this was way of the mark. “It did not even drizzle enough,” an official said.

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