Tulsi Lake Overflow Eases Mumbai's Water Woes Amid Heavy Rains

Tulsi Lake, crucial for Mumbai's potable water, began overflowing due to heavy rains, alleviating the city's 10% water cut. Located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the lake has a capacity of 804.6 crore litres and supplies 1.8 crore litres daily. It typically overflows around mid-July each year.

Tulsi Lake, one of Mumbai's seven primary potable water sources, began to overflow on Saturday following days of heavy rainfall in its catchment area, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the lake overflowed at 8.30 am.

The lake's overflow is a positive development as Mumbai has been experiencing a 10% water cut. The BMC attributed the overflow to recent heavy rains in the lake's catchment area.

Historically, Tulsi Lake overflowed on the same date last year (July 20) at 1.28 am, and on July 16 in 2021 and 2022. Its storage capacity is 804.6 crore litres, and it plays a crucial role in Mumbai's water supply.

Situated about 35 km from the BMC headquarters in South Mumbai, Tulsi Lake is the smallest of the city's reservoirs, contributing 1.8 crore litres of water daily. Constructed in 1879 at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, the overflow from Tulsi Lake drains into Vihar Lake, also within SGNP.

Mumbai receives 3,800 MLD (millions of litres per day) of water from seven reservoirs located in Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik districts. These include Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar, and Tulsi.