Despite the arrival of the monsoon, Mumbai is still reeling under a severe water shortage. It was a similarly grim situation this time last year. Although the current water cut is officially only 20%, it actually translates to a lot more for most people.
In our building, we’ve gone from receiving unlimited water 24 hours a day to only getting water for a few hours at a time, three times a day. The water supply to flush the toilet has also been cut off, so we have to flush it manually with a bucket. (Another instance of the ubiquitous Indian bucket being put to good use!).
Many people aren’t anywhere near as fortunate as us. Some only get water for 10 minutes a day, or not at all.
Today, the “additional municipal commissioner in charge of water supply” (isn’t one enough to do the job properly?) is saying that Mumbai may only get water once in 2 days if ongoing heavy rain isn’t received soon. Apparently Pune is already moving towards such a situation.
So how do people cope? Either buy buying water, which comes in large delivery trucks, or by storing water.
Our apartment has an overhead water storage tank that can be directly filled from the water supply just by turning on a tap. It’s quite convenient. Our landlord is especially enthusiastic about it too. Last year, when I complained to him about the building’s ongoing water problems, he always kept referring me to the water storage tank as a wonderful solution.
I assumed that every apartment in our complex had one of these water storage tanks. However, not so it seems. One day when the landlord visited, I discovered the reason why he was so proud of his water storage tank. Apparently, our apartment is possibly the only apartment in the building to have one!
Really? Why doesn’t everyone install a water storage tank? “Oh, they’re not allowed to. Overhead water storage tanks are not permitted in the apartments”, the landlord informed me.
He went on to tell me how he used to be a member of the building’s co-operative society (these societies are usually anything BUT cooperative!) and he was actively responsible for implementing a rule that banned the installation of water storage tanks. Not only this, he then directly turned around and installed such a tank in his own apartment.
Anyone who’s familiar with the workings of India will probably be able to predict the outcome of his actions. Apparently, an angry mob (and rightly so!) of residents from the other apartments gathered at the door of his apartment. They hammered on the door and threatened to beat him up. However, in reality, could anything be done to change the situation? Of course not. We still have our water storage tank while the other residents have to go without.
While I’m grateful that we do have the tank, I’m dismayed that the landlord could be so content about it. I’m appalled and incensed by his hypocritical behaviour. Doesn’t he care that he has deprived everyone else of an important convenience? From what I could gather from his satisfied manner, obviously not! Self interest reins supreme.
Similar situations are common all over India. People say one thing and do another. They have double standards. And there’s no accountability of people in power.
Now, I’d better stop before I get further away from the topic of water cuts!
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Dear Sharell,
Please don’t get offended by my pro-Russian views. If by any chance I have hurt you I am extremely sorry.
The electricity and water supply in Mumbai is much better than in New Delhi or any other Indian city. The summers in New Delhi are very hot with the mercury crossing 45 degrees Celsius. In Delhi people on an average have to face 6 hours of power cuts daily. The hot and humid weather of Delhi makes matters further worse. Delhi is becoming more of an extension of the Thar desert. In Delhi most of the households receive water twice a day for 2 hours.
It is high time the government of India takes note of the current water, electricity crisis and take remedial measures. The remedial measures include the following
Increasing the installed power capacity of the nation by 25000 MW per year( India will need an estimated 800,000 MW of power by 2035 which is roughly six times the present installed capacity of 149,000 MW). Power thefts and transmission losses also have to be reduced.
Interlinking of rivers ,rain water harvesting,de-salanisation of sea water can help solve the water crisis. Rivers in North-East India have abundant water supply which can be diverted to water deficient rivers in other parts of the country.
Hi Shaunak, why would I be offended. You’ve made some very valid points. I think the situation is appalling. I’ve never lived in Delhi so I can’t comment, but I know Mumbai is relatively well off compared to a lot of places. It is extremely frustrating that the government can’t seem to act to remedy India’s problems. Even in Mumbai there are apparently 1,400 wells and borewells, but only 400 are functional. The rest haven’t been cleaned for years. Why doesn’t someone get to work and clean them? Or is it impossible because the BMC (municipal council) can’t even keep the nullahs properly clean for the monsoon.
Hope your landlord/lady doesn’t read the post….if he does he or his wife might make an unscheduled stopover and have a “talk”
Sharell – I can’t comment on the ineptitude of the Indian Gov’t but I know some people trying to remedy water shortage problems without waiting for the gov’t – isn’t that a common theme in India too
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Sharell: I haven’t experienced water cuts in my visit to Delhi area…
As you must know by now, their is tremendous disparity between the HAVE’S and the HAVE NOT in India. If the consulates and Embassy people have access to water and electricity 24/7 that means its there, just not spread fairly.
Sometimes I wish India had a dictator and was run like a private company like Tata. That would straighten everyone out.
Dev: There are water cuts in Delhi too. And they are bad, bad, bad water cuts. It’s criminal.
Sharell: You should make a visit to Delhi soon. We’re not as bad as we seem you know!
See there is nothing much the “system” can do here, when the sources themselves don’t have enough. Infact, compared to the other cities, Bombay has a much better water supply situation. And the municipal workers of the city are diligent and hardworking and do a decent job given the enormous population and utter lack of civic sense among the people.
It’s typical Indian lethargy to blame the “system” for our actions. It’s fast, and provides instant gratification, you see.
“Why don’t they clean the nullahs”? Why the hell do we dirty them in the first place.
“Why do the roads get flooded”? Do we bother about that when we throw that candy wrapper on the street?
“Why is the system so corrupt?” FYI, it is what gets most of the Indian elite’s work done.
It’s easy to blame the system. But it takes a lot of strength of character and sensitivity to change ourselves. If (we) the people don’t bother, there is little the poor BMC guys can do.(I refer to the actual labourers and workers, who are the unwitting targets of our idiotic diatribes and not to the corrupt higher-ups.)
But New Bombay didn’t have much of a problem regarding water at all
Infact we’re having water cuts not because of poor rains, but because a wall in the pumping station collapsed(probably because of heavy rains!)
Oh yes, I completely agree!! And something else I was surprised to discover recently — people aren’t billed according to the amount of water they use?? Apartments don’t have their own water meters? I just assumed water was pay per consumption like it is back home, but apparently it’s not here. Surely if it was, it would cut down on wastage?