Water position is going from bad to worse in Maharashtra. The major reason for the shortfall is shortage of monsoon rains last year. But this is not the only reason as we fail to gauge and find an alternative source for water despite there was a warning. Water level in Marathwada dams is at 3% and it is under historic low in the last 5 years. And the arid region is facing fourth drought in five years. Mumbai is having number of high rise buildings and face additional cuts during hot summer season. With reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai and Thane facing acute shortage, the water crisis in the metro is escalating and facing a grim situation. Already 20 per cent water cuts are in force and additional water cut is contemplated to meet the ticklish situation. We failed to store rain water for other use and thereby its harvesting could have solved part of the problem in the crisis situation. It is not too late we follow suit and have provisions for rain water harvesting before the ensuing monsoon season and see that such a serious situation is not encountered in the next couple of years and enforce rain water harvesting as an alternative source for the Housing societies in an around Mumbai. That is my clarion call.
Jayanthy S. Maniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
