Dry taps this summer? Bada Taal has plenty for all, says BMC

Bhopal: As summer rapidly extends its march across Bhopal, the city's primary water source and lifeline, Upper Lake, is already showing signs of depletion.One of the prominent city landmarks, the Upper Lake, stands at 1663.15 feet, about 3.65 feet below its full tank level (FTL) of 1666.8 feet. While officials describe the situation as comfortable, the margin of safety is thinner than last year, when the lake was only 2.8 feet below FTL.The shrinking cushion raises concerns as Bhopal heads into peak summer. Rising temperatures and increased extraction could erode reserves faster, leaving the city vulnerable if the arrival of monsoon is delayed. Upper Lake not only meets more than 40% of the city's water needs, but even outlying areas are increasingly dependent on it. Municipal corporation (BMC) officials played down fears of dipping levels, pointing to its near-full status after the last monsoon. But experts warn that even a one-foot difference translates into millions of litres less storage, a gap that could widen under mounting demand.