Mumbai, August 02: With the average Mumbaikar facing a cut of about 30 per cent in water supply, residents are outraged that some five-star hotels are being spared. They face only 10-20 per cent of water cut.
The BMC had earlier said the delayed rains and the drastic drop in water levels in lakes, had left it with no choice but to impose a water cut on Mumbaikars. The water cut was imposed, step by step, till it touched 30 per cent in June and July. There was, however, no mention of any preferential treatment towards hotels and clubs. The cut was expected to be the same for all and the hotels were told they could not use potable water for swimming pools, steam baths and other such luxuries.
It didn’t quite turn out that way. Now the BMC’s hydraulic department says there is a common distribution system of water, so it is not possible to increase the water cut designated for the hotels, and bring it up to 30 per cent, as it for the average Mumbaikar. The department alleged that a water cut was imposed only on 23 star hotels including The Taj in Colaba (which was subject to an 18 per cent cut), the Oberoi and the Taj President (21 per cent) and 15 per cent at The Taj Land’s End and the Grand Hyatt.
The move has left many residents angry. BJP corporator Yogesh Sagar condemned the discrepancy in water supply, and demanded that hotels face the same fate as ordinary Mumbaikars. “Why should the common man have to face more of a water cut than a five-star hotel? They are using water too freely and lavishly. The BMC needs to crack down on that.” Another BJP corporator, Ashish Shelar, added: “It’s criminal that five-star hotels are allowed to maintain swimming pools when the rest of Mumbai has to cut back on its use of water.”
Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar however said the BMC merely supplies water to the hotel, and therefore cannot monitor how it is being used — whether to fill a swimming pool or for other purposes. “But the BMC has urged five-star hotels to shut down their jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath facilities. The BMC has also shut down production in about 21 mineral water bottling plants.” Diggikar added: “The water cut will soon even out. The water supply to hotels will be the same that the common man faces.”
–Agencies