Mumbai Holi revelers used up 35 lakh liters of water during festivities despite BMC’s instructions. Residential buildings warning’s were obviously not taken into consideration either. Mumbai local news reports that a water tanker owner has said that “All owners are scared that the BMC will take action. We had got a notice from BMC asking us not to supply tankers to people for rain dance, whether it is potable or non-potable, but it is the only time we can earn. After dahi-handi, Holi is the biggest festival where we do good business.” (Mid-day.com).
350 water tankers were used this Holi according to Mumbai local news. The supply had gone down because of a recent water shortage crisis so celebrations were forced to include more eco-friendly colors. This is a sharp decline from the average 450 tankers used.
People were actually canceling orders, according to Amol Mandhare, Akshata water supply owner. He said “There is so much awareness this year that people voluntarily cancelled orders. I had an order of 12 non-portable tankers from a renowned housing society in Juhu for rain dance. However, they cancelled it on Saturday. Last year we had sold around 20 tankers.”(mid-day.com).
Mumbai local news reports that the shortage was due to damages to an underground tunnel at Kandivli resulting from unauthorized digging of a well from an unnamed private party. The preservation and assessment of the tunnel is expected to take another 5 days. The surrounding areas, including Malad to Borilvi will be given water from an alternate source. Unauthorized use of the tunnel lead to the rationalizing of clean water and the water shortage in surrounding areas.
Scarce rain fail of only 9,36,504 million liters of water when the city requires at least 13,00,000 mld of water every year to function properly is also the cause of the shortage. City officials fear this could lead to protests and general civil unrest.
MCGM plans to get water from alternating sources to meet demands according to Mumbai local news reports. The city receives water through major pipelines and the government plans to set up large water recycling facilities through public-private partnership mode at Ghatkopar, Mulund, Versova and Colaba. This is so that processing waste and grey water into clean water will be possible, giving the city a little more leeway in water supply.
The rain dance was organized by Jain Jagruti association in Ghathkopar at the National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped or NASEOH.
