MUMBAI, July 24: Scanty rainfall in the city over the last couple of weeks need not be bad news for people who have to face the trouble of steep water-cuts every monsoon. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation assures that there is no reason for panic, as the water level in all the five potable lakes is `satisfactory.'

"We are in a comfortable position and there is no need to impose any water-cuts urgently," says hydraulic engineer SN Turkar. He informed that a meeting to review the situation will be taken on August 1. This will also be attended by the representatives of the meteorological department. He said that although the rainfall in the catchment areas was not satisfactory, there was hope yet, as the monsoon was not over. He pointed out that there is usually good rainfall in the month of July, as the weather bureau had predicted, as well. Executive engineer of the hydraulic department H N Kusnur also aired similar views, and added that if there is no rain in the next one week, the situation will be reviewed and a decision on imposing any water-cut will be discussed.

Officials of the department pointed out that it was too early for the lakes to overflow. ``It is better if they overflow at the end of the season so that the water is not wasted,'' they said, for a good rainfall at the end of the season is helpful as the water lasts for the whole of next year. They added that most of the lakes overflow by mid-August, and if they don't in the first week of September, a steep water-cut has to be imposed. There was no water-cut last year as the rainfall was good.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.