As ministers in Sobo complain of shortage, PWD in hot water

MUMBAI: Not just ordinary citizens, state ministers staying in Nariman Point, too, have been facing problems because of inadequate or irregular water supply. The only difference: the state government has asked the civic body to take cognisance of the problem the ministers are facing.

The state public works department (PWD) in a letter to the civic body has pointed out that 19 ministers’ bungalows and the new administrative wing of Mantralaya on Madam Cama Road are getting inadequate or irregular water for the past 10 days. The letter further has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore adequate water supply and provide seven to 10 water tankers daily to all the ministers’ bungalows and the administrative wings of the Mantralaya.

Citizens from Andheri, Jogeshwari, Byculla and other areas from south Mumbai have meanwhile been complaining about the erratic and low pressure water supply. On September 25 and 26, the BMC had taken up pipeline up gradation work and announced a two-day water cut in several parts of the western suburb. However, corporators said despite the completion of the work, several parts of the western suburbs, especially Andheri and Jogeshwari, are reeling under either low-pressure water supply or none at all.

However, BMC officials said there have been no water cuts in the city.

The stock of the seven lakes which supply potable water to Mumbai is over one lakh million litres, less than what it was last year. Following the hue and cry in the BMC’S standing committee last week, the civic body had said they might have to use the reserve water stock if required.