MUMBAI: Mumbaikars need to gear up to a 20% water cut for around eight days next week. This is due to BMC’s plans to commission the first phase of the tunnel between Gundavali to Bhandup Water Complex. The first phase of the tunnel would be from Gundavali to Kapurbawadi.
The BMC would impose the 20% water cut on August 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31 this month and September 1 next month. Moreover the areas situated at fag end of distribution zone, elevated areas and residents on upper floors will be more affected due to low pressure.
TOI had in its August 16 edition reported about how BMC’s plan to commission the 15k.1m tunnel from Gundavali in Thane to Bhandup Water Complex by June this year has been delayed further. In the BMC’s budget speech in February this year municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta had announced that the tunnels would be commissioned by June 2016 however there has been a delay due to some site related difficulties.
The BMC would now undertake work for beginning the part commission of the tunnel from Gundavali to Kapurbawadi. A senior civic official said, “This is only the first phase commissioning which we are planning to undertake. The other phase would take over a month more.”
Currently raw water is brought from source to Bhandup Complex treatment plant through a network of water mains like Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna and Tansa which have been carrying water to the city since long. The thickness of these pipelines, some of which are around 100 years old, has reduced due to wear and tear. So, it is essential to replace such age-old, dilapidated pipelines. Also, old water pipelines have been witnessed frequent bursts and leakage, leading to repairs being undertaken.
Considering all these facts, BMC had undertaken various tunnel projects. The tunnel of 5,500mm diameter from Gundavali to Kapurbawdi and Kapurbawdi to Bhandup Complex has a capacity to carry 4,000 million litres of water daily which includes provisions for existing supply and supply from proposed Gargai and Pinjal dams.
Richa Pinto is a special correspondent with The Times of India. S...
Read MoreRicha Pinto is a special correspondent with The Times of India. She covers urban governance & climate change issues. With over a decade of experience in field reporting, she has written extensively on various civic issues affecting Mumbaikars. She graduated in -journalism from the prestigious Mumbai-based St Xavier's College and later pursued a three-year Law degree (L.L.B.) with the University of Mumbai. She regularly tweets about all things that matter to Mumbai on-- @richapintoi.
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