Water Woes

There is a virtual fear psychosis going around town on the rainfall deficit in the lake catchment areas around mumbai.Every news paper has ensured that your gulp from morning cuppa does not go down your throat.What is surprising is that there are no discussions happening around avoiding such a situation in the future. The BMC is yet to discuss any proposals surrounding rain water harvesting systems; and making them compulsory. In my building, the builder just dug a pit and ensured that an imaginary "peter pan" pipeline led in to it feeding some water. Compare this to my flat in native Madurai where there is an elaborate network of pipes in the stilt parking area which originate in the terrace and lead right up to a gravel pit which soaks up the rain water and sends it right below the ground and recharges the water table. A jayalalithesque determination can only save the situation. While Shekar Kapur just talks about his move "pani" , Mumbai could brace up for water wars in the future. It is raining as this blog is being typed out, but all that we can do right upto ganesh festival is to cross our fingers and hope that we wont be let down. My mother tells me that in the city of a living saint (Haji Ali) and Mahalakshmi, its citizens will never be let down.However that is no reason for us to stay lethargic and not do anything to ensure a secure future.