MU goes underground to end water woes on campus
6 borewells, 5 wells to be dug; ₹ 25 crore allocated in 2024-25 to address hostel needs, water shortage
MUMBAI: The University of Mumbai (MU) has resolved to address the water scarcity issue at its Kalina campus by drilling borewells and wells within the premises. The university has allocated ₹25 crore in the 2024-25 budget to address hostel needs and ensure water sustainability. Despite being established in Kalina for over 50 years, MU continues to grapple with inadequate water supply, impacting the quality of student hostel life and imposing financial strain on the university.
To address the shortfall, MU hires three to five water tankers every day. Each 10,000-liter water tanker costs 3000, resulting in a daily expenditure of ₹ 12,000 to ₹ 15,000 that amounts to ₹ 4.5 lakh every month. In response, the Management Council (MC) has planned to dig six borewells and five wells.
Hostels were badly hit by the water shortage. Last April, the girls sat on the street near the staff quarters, protesting the water shortage. Recently some students wrote a complaint to the authorities. “Sometime we need to purchase packed drinking water. Not only the hostels but various department buildings face water scarcity. The washrooms stink as a result. Considering this, if MU authorities make some efforts , then we welcome it,” said a student from a boy’s hostel.
Pradeep Sawant, a former management council member, said, “After the last incident at women’s hostel, we helped MU get additional water connection but MU never tried for borewells even though we suggested them time to time.”
The MC has now committed to promptly commence work on achieving a water-sufficient campus, involving continuous engagement with authorities for additional water connections and the implementation of water conservation projects on-site. Furthermore, the MC has initiated the tender process for the construction of the girls’ hostel mess, which is currently unavailable, compelling female students to dine at the boys’ hostel. An MU spokesperson said, “We are planning to implement a Perennial Water Supply System and a Rainwater Harvesting System under the V-C’s initiative. Approval has been secured from the municipality for the construction of a borewell to cater to horticultural needs, with plans underway to propose the construction of four additional wells.”
Additionally, a large-scale tree plantation drive will be conducted to augment the water table. Currently, a 10,000liter capacity Sewage Treatment Plant is operational at the Kalina campus, with efforts to expand its capacity and connectivity to more buildings for irrigation purposes.
The Kalina complex spans 243 acres and comprises 66 buildings, encompassing administrative, educational, residential, and hostel facilities. “The campus requires 78 lakh litres of water daily, of which only 6 lakh litres are currently supplied due to reduced water hours by the municipality. Efforts are underway to restore the sanctioned 9 lakh litre water supply through continued engagement with the municipality,” said the spokesperson.
Despite the number of buildings increasing over the last 15 years, water supply from the municipality has not kept pace.