Less than 96 hours after the BJP rulers led by deputy mayor- Hasmukh Gehlot threatened to launch an agitation against the acute crisis of water in the twin-city, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) authorities released 118 MLD out of the allotted quota of 125 MLD bring some respite for the residents of the twin-city.
Earlier, MIDC’s supply was restricted to not more than 95 MLD which had limited the frequency of water supply to once in 60 to 65 hours in most of the areas. Apart from the BJP, the local Shiv Sena, Congress and MNS unit have also been registering their protest against the acute water crisis which had heated up the political arena in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC).
As against the requirement of over 225 MLD, the twin-city has an allotted supply of 211 MLD provided jointly by the MIDC (125 MLD) and STEM (86 MLD) water supply authority. However the actual supply hovered below 180 MLD owing to a 24 hour supply suspension every fortnight which has been imposed in the Thane district. This in addition to leakages, unaccounted supply and theft which further aggravates the water woes of the region.
“It is now crystal clear that the MBMC is capable of lifting 125 MLD water supply sans any technical hiccups. Now, the concerned service providers should ensure that the supply is not interrupted.” said Gehlot had given a ten day ultimatum to the administration for resolving the issue failing which the BJP will launch a protest agitation from 12, April onwards.
With no self-sustained resources of water supply like other civic bodies, the twin-city also faces a demographical dilemma as it falls in the tail-end of the district, which extends the 24-hour water cut to an additional six to eight hours owing to low pressure.
