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Mumbai experienced scorching temperatures on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of a heatwave in Maharashtra's capital and neighboring Thane and Raigad districts for two days until Tuesday.
IMD officials cautioned that the maximum temperature in these three districts could soar up to 38 degrees Celsius. An official from IMD Mumbai highlighted the issuance of a heatwave warning for Mumbai, Raigad, and Thane districts for both Monday and Tuesday.
"The maximum temperature is expected to range between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius," stated the official.
In response to the impending heatwave, Mumbai's civic administration has already released guidelines to help residents cope with the soaring temperatures this summer season. Meanwhile, Maharashtra grapples with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by dwindling water levels in major dams across the state.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has implemented water usage restrictions within the city due to the acute water shortage. This development coincides with major dams in Pune, including Khadakwasla, Temghar, Panshet, and Varasgaon, reporting significantly lower water levels compared to last year.
A Maharashtra water resources department official informed Hindustan Times that the current summer season appears hotter than last year, attributing the decline in dam water levels to reduced rainfall.
Currently, only 32.72% of the total storage capacity is available across 138 major dams statewide, reflecting a decrease of over 7.1% from last year. To address the escalating water crisis, the PMC has ramped up efforts, increasing water tanker distributions in merged villages.
According to PMC reports, 300 water tankers are allocated to 11 of the 34 merged villages, with an additional 800 water tankers assigned to the remaining 23 villages. These efforts aim to alleviate water scarcity in areas such as Sus, Mahalunge, Pisoli, Holkar Wadi, Phursungi, Uruli, and Catari Bu.
As the demand for water tankers surges in affected villages, the PMC noted a 10% increase in water supply through tankers to meet growing needs. The critical situation extends beyond Pune, with various divisions in the state reporting alarming water storage levels.
Marathwada division records the lowest water storage at 19.36%, followed by Pune division at 36.34%, Nagpur division at 48.84%, Amravati division at 49.62%, Nashik division at 38.17%, and Konkan division at 50.50%.
The status of major dams across Maharashtra paints a concerning picture, with 17 dams completely dry, 23 with less than 10% water storage, and 20 with over 50% water storage. The remaining dams exhibit water storage levels ranging from 20% to 40%.
As Mumbai braces for sweltering temperatures amidst the ongoing water crisis, proactive measures and conservation efforts remain imperative to mitigate the impact on residents and address the challenges posed by the scorching heat and diminishing water reserves.
