Mumbai’s Tansa and Vihar Lakes Overflow After Heavy Rains
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Wednesday that the Tansa and Vihar lakes in Mumbai had started overflowing due to heavy rainfall over the last few days. These lakes serve as crucial sources of potable water for the city.
Out of the seven reservoirs that supply water to Mumbai, the Vihar, Tansa, and Tulsi lakes have already reached their capacity and started overflowing. The Vihar lake, situated in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park, began overflowing at 12:48 am, while the Tansa lake, located in the neighboring Thane district, overflowed at 4:35 am.
The BMC tweeted, Tansa lake, among the 7 lakes that supply water to Mumbaikars, has started overflowing today (July 26, 2023) at 4:35 AM.
The Tulsi lake had already overflowed on July 20 following heavy rains in the city and suburbs.
Mumbai relies on these seven reservoirs – Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar, and Tulsi, situated in Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik districts – for its water supply, receiving a total of 3,800 million liters per day (MLD).
Due to inadequate rainfall in their catchment areas, the BMC had previously imposed a 10 percent water cut in Mumbai starting from July 1. However, with the recent overflow of the lakes, the situation has improved.
The Powai lake in Mumbai also started overflowing earlier this month, but its water is not used for drinking purposes, according to BMC officials.
As a result of the Tansa lake overflowing, a discharge of 1,100 cubic foot per second (cusecs) of water has been initiated by the Thane district authorities.
The water storage in the Vihar and Tulsi lakes is currently at 100 percent, while in Tansa, it is at 99.91 percent. Modak Sagar reservoir is at 87.69 percent capacity, and the Middle Vaitarna reservoir is at 67.95 percent. The Barvi dam in Thane district has an 80.76 percent water storage, while the Bhatsa dam is at 61.72 percent.
In Palghar district, the Dhamni dam holds 92.35 percent of its water storage capacity, while the Kavdas and Wandri reservoirs are at 100 percent.
The Upper Vaitarna reservoir in Nashik currently has 52.14 percent of its water storage capacity.
As the lakes continue to overflow, Mumbai can breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to water supply. The heavy rains have brought a much-needed respite to the city’s water resources, ensuring that residents have access to sufficient potable water. However, the authorities must continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary steps to handle any potential flooding or other implications caused by the heavy rainfall.
The overflow of these lakes serves as a reminder of the significance of responsible water management and the need for sustainable practices to ensure the availability of water in the face of climate change. As the monsoon season progresses, it becomes crucial for Mumbai and other cities to adopt measures that optimize water usage and storage, preventing any future water crises.
