Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Managing Director of the Hiranandani Group, has asserted that Mumbai's persistent water crises are not a result of water scarcity but rather a systemic failure to efficiently recycle and reuse available resources. His comments come as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continues a 10 percent citywide water cut, with a more severe 20 percent reduction for commercial and industrial users.
The current restrictions, which include a complete suspension of water supply to ongoing construction sites, have sparked significant concern among the city's developers. Mumbai's lake storage has plummeted to a critical 10.35 percent, exacerbated by a delayed monsoon season.
Recycling, Not Shortage, is the Core Issue
Hiranandani emphasized that the city's approach to water management is fundamentally flawed. "The real problem is we don't use water efficiently. We put all the sewage in the sea. If we recycle all the water, we would have 30 percent more water available to the whole city," he stated in an exclusive interview. He highlighted that many non-potable uses, such as air-conditioning, flushing, and irrigation for gardens and sports grounds, currently consume fresh water when recycled alternatives could suffice.
He pointed to Nagpur as a successful example, where efficient water recycling generates enough surplus to be sold to industries for profit. Hiranandani's own company reportedly processes seven million liters of water daily for use in its projects, demonstrating the feasibility of such practices.
Impact on Construction and Call for Long-Term Solutions
The suspension of water supply to construction projects adds another layer of challenge to Mumbai's real estate sector. While these curbs are often a reactive measure during monsoon delays, Hiranandani advocates for proactive, long-term solutions rather than annual emergency responses.
He attributed the lack of widespread recycling initiatives to the low cost of municipal water, which disincentivizes investment in sewage treatment plants and recycling infrastructure. "We are now putting up sewage treatment plants, but we have no provision for recycling and reusing the water because water is supplied very cheaply. That is the difficulty we have," Hiranandani explained.
Despite the current challenges, there is a glimmer of hope as the monsoon, which has already reached Kerala, is anticipated to arrive in Mumbai within approximately seven days. Hiranandani believes that once the rains commence, concerns over the water curbs should naturally begin to ease.