Mumbai: Mumbai is shedding as long as 1,400 million litres (ML) of water daily as a result of leaks and burglaries. This comprises 34% of water system by the Municipal Corporation ofGreater Mumbai This gross waste of priceless water is occurring also as residents from a number of wards suffer water lack.
Last year, an astonishing 26,962 problems gathered regarding water burglary and pipe leaks– however this is simply the pointer of the iceberg. This worrying loss highlights the obvious failing of the procedures implemented by the BMC to properly tackle this expanding situation. While 2 of Mumbai’s crucial water resources, Tulsi and Vihar lakes, lie within the city, the various other 5 lakes are spread out throughout adjoining areas like Palghar, Thane, and Nashik, varying from 100- 175km away.
Water from these lakes is moved with 650km of transmission pipelines and 6,000 kilometres of solution pipelines. Mumbai gets 3,950 ML of water daily, disappointing the overall need of 4,463 ML. Even extra worrying is, that the city’s drinkable water need is anticipated to raise by 1.5 times by 2041, getting to 6,900 ML each day.
For years, crores of rupees have actually been put right into changing aging pipes and fixing leakages. Yet, water loss rose to a worrying 34%, up from 20% in 2009. Despite putting millions right into these fixings, the city’s initiatives to deal with the system have actually stopped working.
Founder Of The NGO Pani Haq Samiti Strongly Criticises The Way Of Handling Of City’s Water Issue
Sitaram Shelar, creator of the NGO Pani Haq Samiti (PHS), highly criticises the method the city’s water problem is being managed. He indicate the unreasonable scapegoating of run-down neighborhoods for unsanctioned tap, despite the fact that they are a few of one of the most water-deprived areas inMumbai
“The BMC once had a dedicated cell for early detection and prevention of pipe leaks, but it was shut down,” he described. “Instead, crores of rupees were funneled into lucrative contracts to repair these leaks, benefiting only the contractors. Worse, BMC officials are complicit in giving unauthorised water connections to slum ‘dadas,’” Shelar included.
Despite insurance claims of having actually changed 80% of old pipes, he highlighted an obvious reality: “If the pipelines are supposedly fixed, why has water loss only increased? The water department has been weakened by a lack of political will, and the so-called revival of the leak detection cell is just for show. Only one man per ward is working on it – how can that possibly solve anything? Mumbai’s water crisis is not just about scarcity – it’s about a system rigged to fail those who need it the most,” claimedShelar
Statement Of Dr. Subhajit Mukherjee
Dr Subhajit Mukherjee, Water Hero of India, Jal Jeevan Mission, attended to the continuous water leak problem in Mumbai, clarifying the city’s long-lasting facilities obstacles.
“The first-ever pipeline network was introduced to the world during the British era in Mumbai,” he kept in mind. “Leakage is a common issue with any supply system, and it is unrealistic to expect zero leaks. However, timely maintenance is essential,” he claimed.
Dr Mukerjee recognized that while the BMC is applying to decrease water leakages, they have actually not been completely effective. “Frequent audits have been conducted, but the BMC’s failure lies in poor execution. There are new technologies, including AI-based apps, to detect leaks, but these require financial investment. The BMC is working on this, but progress is slow,” claimedDr Mukherjee
He likewise explained that water leak takes place within homes, specifically with flushing systems and making use of water for non-potable objectives. “Unfortunately, people aren’t taking these issues seriously,” he included.
Given the city’s fast advancement,Dr Mukherjee stressed that the BMC needs to make specific water metering necessary in brand-new buildings to keep track of and decrease unneeded water use. “The water pipelines that supply Mumbai are laid through forested and remote areas, with many sections buried underground.
This makes their security and maintenance crucial to prevent leaks and theft. However, these pipelines are highly vulnerable to damage from environmental factors like soil erosion, silt, humidity, waste, and chemicals, all of which accelerate corrosion and lead to increased water leakage. Also, 38% of engineering positions in the hydraulic engineering department are vacant, leaving the department short-staffed.
In recent years, several ongoing infrastructure projects across the city have further damaged these pipelines,” claimed an elderly public authorities. Despite these troubles, the BMC has actually laid a passage network extending 95km, with service an extra 20km still underway. As component of its ‘Water to All’ plan, the BMC has actually likewise given roughly 7,868 brand-new water links to run-down neighborhood locations in between June 2022 and December 2024, claimed the authorities.
Abhijeet Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), claimed, “A consultant has been tasked with preparing a plan to reduce non-revenue water. He will suggest effective measures to address leakages and prevent theft.”
