MBMC likely to ban new water lines

Mumbai: In an attempt to counter the looming water crisis and maintain the current level of supply over the next seven to eight months, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation is contemplating to impose a ban on the issuance of new water connections in the twin-city.

The issue was discussed at length in a meeting held to chalk out an effective contingency plan in the wake of the 14 per cent water cut imposed by the state irrigation department which will translate into a 24-hour shutdown every week for all civic bodies across the Thane district.

“Yes, the move to ban new water lines was under consideration and the mode of implementation will be decided in today’s meet,” confirmed, chairman (water supply panel), Prashant Dalvi.

Owing to an early exit by the monsoon, the month of September registered a scanty rainfall, prompting the irrigation department to roll out a water management policy in order to utilise the limited quantum of water till July- 2019.

Following directives to service providers of observing mandated weekly shutdowns; the MIDC and the STEM water authority swung into contingency mode and imposed a 24-hour shut down, once a week on Friday. Water supply is bound to be affected for the couple of days due to low pressure.