Mumbai clubs get full quota of potable water with no check on use

We supply potable water to them but cannot control and check where this water is being used—whether for watering lawns or washing floors

BMC OFFICIAL ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY

MUMBAI: While the Indian Premier League (IPL) will have to be moved out of the droughthit Maharashtra to avoid use of water for the grounds, there are over 200 clubs and gymkhanas in the city that are still being supplied with at least a combined total of 2 to 4 million litres of potable water every day with no tab on its usage.

After the recent controversy over the use of water for maintaining pitches during the IPL, questions are now being raised over the supply of potable water to these clubs and gymkhanas in the face of the water crisis in the city. While residential users have been complaining about the shortage of water, there are various sports clubs, recreation clubs and gymkhanas that are still supplied with the same amount of water as the Wankhede stadium.

Even after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) imposed a 50% cut in water supply for commercial users in August, each club is supplied on an average 10,000 litres to 20,000 litres of potable water every day. The civic body has no mechanism in place to find out how the water supplied to these commercial entities is used. It has also not asked the clubs to set up a rainwater harvesting system even though some of them have huge premises.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official said, “We supply 45 litres of water per person per day to clubs. The quantity is calculated on the basis of members and tables in the restaurants... We supply potable water to them but cannot control and check where this water is being used—whether for watering lawns or washing floors.”