Mumbai:
It may have poured, Mumbai may have flooded - but in 20 days Mumbai may not have a drop to drink.
The reason: the city's main reservoirs have received little rain forcing civic authorities to impose an unprecedented 30 per cent water cut.
"Lake levels are lower than last year, but the problem is there was rainfall then. Now the situation is alarming," says Pramod Charankar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
The result: civic water supply to both public and private swimming pools will be stopped.
Hotels have been asked to use water judiciously. Water supply to construction sites have also been stopped.
"We are trying to recycle some of the water we use. We fill less in each glass we serve. But if it gets worse we may have to shut our restaurants," puts forth Santosh Shetty, Hon Gen Secy, AHAAR.
Civic authorities say that careful use of water for activities like washing and bathing can save over 25 litres per person per day.
The situation seems so desperate that 50 lakh rupees have been allotted to each ward for the upkeep of wells. The writing on the wall is clear - if Mumbaikars do not learn to save water today, there will be very little left tomorrow.
The reason: the city's main reservoirs have received little rain forcing civic authorities to impose an unprecedented 30 per cent water cut.
"Lake levels are lower than last year, but the problem is there was rainfall then. Now the situation is alarming," says Pramod Charankar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
The result: civic water supply to both public and private swimming pools will be stopped.
Hotels have been asked to use water judiciously. Water supply to construction sites have also been stopped.
"We are trying to recycle some of the water we use. We fill less in each glass we serve. But if it gets worse we may have to shut our restaurants," puts forth Santosh Shetty, Hon Gen Secy, AHAAR.
Civic authorities say that careful use of water for activities like washing and bathing can save over 25 litres per person per day.
The situation seems so desperate that 50 lakh rupees have been allotted to each ward for the upkeep of wells. The writing on the wall is clear - if Mumbaikars do not learn to save water today, there will be very little left tomorrow.
