The Indian Express: Mumbai: Friday, 2 August 2024.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) has not done any desilting work for a decade in city’s key
lakes and reservoirs, which are primary sources of drinking water for Mumbai
city, according to an RTI (Right to Information) query filed by the NatConnect
Foundation recently.
According to BN Kumar, Director of NatConnect, the civic body said in the RTI response that “no desilting work has been carried out at the Tulsi, Modaksagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna and Vihar lakes for the past 10 years”.
The State Urban Development Department (UDD) also confirmed lack of records for desilting activities. The BMC, responding through its Ghatkopar Water Works office, also stated that no funds had been allocated for such work.
The MGCM Assistant Hydraulic Engineer’s department in Kapurwadi, Thane, also confirmed that no desilting had taken place in the said lakes for 10 years.
Kumar said that there was no information from the BMC regarding the desilting of the remaining two lakes Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna. Together, these seven lakes and reservoirs supply 3.4 billion litres of drinking water to the city daily.
“The BMC allocated about Rs 250 crore for desilting city drains as part of this year’s monsoon preparedness, but no actual work has been done,” Kumar said.
NatConnect has written to the Chief Minister, calling for comprehensive discussions with all stakeholders to address the issue.
Environmentalists argue that silt accumulation in reservoirs leads to inaccurate data on water capacities. “Desilting is vital to maintain the water-holding capacity of lakes and reservoirs. Silt accumulation results in misleading data and a false sense of security regarding water availability. Meanwhile, residents are forced to rely on water tankers,” Kumar said.
Purushottam Malwade, hydraulic engineer at the BMC, told The Indian Express, “Hydrographic surveys by the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) have indicated negligible silt in these dams, with some survey reports still pending. The presence of silt does not affect water potability as treatment plants ensure water quality. Desilting requires emptying the reservoir, which is impractical unless absolutely necessary.”
According to BN Kumar, Director of NatConnect, the civic body said in the RTI response that “no desilting work has been carried out at the Tulsi, Modaksagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna and Vihar lakes for the past 10 years”.
The State Urban Development Department (UDD) also confirmed lack of records for desilting activities. The BMC, responding through its Ghatkopar Water Works office, also stated that no funds had been allocated for such work.
The MGCM Assistant Hydraulic Engineer’s department in Kapurwadi, Thane, also confirmed that no desilting had taken place in the said lakes for 10 years.
Kumar said that there was no information from the BMC regarding the desilting of the remaining two lakes Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna. Together, these seven lakes and reservoirs supply 3.4 billion litres of drinking water to the city daily.
“The BMC allocated about Rs 250 crore for desilting city drains as part of this year’s monsoon preparedness, but no actual work has been done,” Kumar said.
NatConnect has written to the Chief Minister, calling for comprehensive discussions with all stakeholders to address the issue.
Environmentalists argue that silt accumulation in reservoirs leads to inaccurate data on water capacities. “Desilting is vital to maintain the water-holding capacity of lakes and reservoirs. Silt accumulation results in misleading data and a false sense of security regarding water availability. Meanwhile, residents are forced to rely on water tankers,” Kumar said.
Purushottam Malwade, hydraulic engineer at the BMC, told The Indian Express, “Hydrographic surveys by the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) have indicated negligible silt in these dams, with some survey reports still pending. The presence of silt does not affect water potability as treatment plants ensure water quality. Desilting requires emptying the reservoir, which is impractical unless absolutely necessary.”
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