BMC to asks 'dahi handi ' mandals to use non-potable water

In a bid to ensure a judicious use of water, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon make an appeal to dahi handi mandals not to waste water during the Janmashtami festival next month.

"As we want to ensure that water is not wasted we will soon be talking to mandals in each ward. It has been observed that each mandal uses three to four water tankers during dahi handi. We will ask them to use non-potable water," deputy municipal commissioner Dinesh Gondalia said today.

"We will soon meet organisers and request them to drastically reduce water usage and make use of tankers only if needed. We will send directives to them," he said.

According to a civic official, over 250 dahi handi mandals are registered in the city and neighbouring Thane region. The festival will be celebrated on September 2.

"Thousands of litres of water is wasted every time a human pyramid attempts to break a handi," Gondalia said.

Due to poor monsoons last year, the metropolis is facing a water cut since June 2009. Residential and commercial users face 7 and 30% water cut respectively.

Stock in the six water-supplying lakes till today is 10.87 lakh millon litres against a demand of 13.5 lakh mld.

The BMC was supplying 2,900 mld for a year. Due to good rainfall this year, the supply has been increased to 3,100 mld, while the daily demand is 4,250 mld.