Mumbaikars have a reason to cheer up as the water levels have risen in all six local lakes thanks to the heavy rains, but the civic body is in no hurry to lift the water cuts.
"There has been good rainfall in all the six lakes and this is good news for all of us. But unfortunately, we cannot lift the water cuts," said Municipal Commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya.
At present, the lakes have a total available stock of 1,01,211 million litres per day (mld) against 1,80,122 mld last year. Since June 1 till June 23, Modak Sagar received 210.80 mm of rainfall, Tansa 248 mm, Vihar 654 mm, Tulsi 227.20 mm, Upper Vaitarna 218.60 mm and Bhatsa 373.20 mm of rainfall.
"We cannot immediately lift the water cuts. We need to be patient as water was drawn from its lowest drawable limit, so we need to have a sufficient amount of water by mid-July. If there is extraordinary rainfall in all the six lakes, then we can think of withdrawing water cuts," a civic official said.
The civic body, which is reviewing the water situation continuously, will make a proper decision on water cuts after mid-July.
In the backdrop of scanty rainfall, the civic body had since June last year imposed water cuts. Presently, residential and commercial users face 15 and 30 per cent water cuts respectively.
