Mumbai: The Mumbai Congress president, Milind Deora, on Monday met the civic commissioner, Praveen Pardeshi, to discuss water crisis in city.
“Providing Mumbaikars with sufficient and clean water is the duty of the BMC,” said Deora. Mumbai is currently facing acute water shortage due to 20-30 per cent water cut and low pressure. People are not getting enough supply for use. Places like Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Worli, Ghatkopar, Sion-Koliwada, Bandra, Bhandup and other areas in the Western suburbs are facing extreme water cuts, he said.
It is not just low monsoon, which is the reason for the water scarcity in the city, but an active mafia, leakage in water pipelines are also to blame for the prevailing problem, said a press release issued by Deora. “According to a report, 16.7 million litres per day (MLD) clean water is being used for washing vehicles. Every person needs 150 litres a day for various uses. Currently, due to the scarcity, they are getting only 135 litres.
On average, Mumbai is getting 3,800 MLD, which should be increased to 4,300 MLD, in view of the increasing population. To fulfil the demand of the increasing population, the BMC should speed up the work on the Gargai, Pinjal, Damanganga-Pinjal to meet the water needs of the population in future,” said the release.
“Across Mumbai, people are getting contaminated water, making them ill and fall prey to water-borne diseases,” Deora pointed out, requesting the BMC chief to provide clean water at reasonable rates to Mumbaikars. Deora also hinted at a protest by the Mumbai Congress if steps were not taken to alleviate Mumbaikars’ water woes.
