Navi Mumbai imposes 10% water cuts as Morbe Dam hits record lows

Water levels in the Morbe Dam have fallen to just 12.73 per cent. In response, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has announced a 10 per cent water cut for the region. The India Meteorological Department has warned of slower monsoon progress this year. Unfavourable weather conditions have delayed the usual rainfall, worsening the water shortage.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is taking steps to address the crisis. It has begun cleaning and reactivating 100 traditional open wells for non-potable use. The corporation is also encouraging housing societies and local representatives to join the well restoration efforts.

B N Kumar of the NatConnect Foundation has highlighted the broader issue of climate change. He warns that urban water security is under threat and calls for large-scale rainwater harvesting to replenish groundwater. Kumar also urges the NMMC to make rainwater harvesting systems mandatory for redevelopment projects. These systems should include groundwater recharge and treated sewage water reuse.

The foundation further recommends that NMMC showcase its own rainwater harvesting systems at public facilities. Sustainable water management practices are being pushed for wider adoption across the city. With the Morbe Dam at critically low levels, the 10 per cent water cut remains in place. The NMMC’s efforts to restore wells and promote rainwater harvesting aim to ease the shortage. Long-term solutions like sustainable water management are now being prioritised to secure the city’s supply.