BMC Allocates $802m to India’s Water Crisis

India’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said it will allocate Rs37.69bn ($802m) towards water supply projects and operational works as the country’s water crisis takes hold.

The provision was declared by the municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya during the announcement of the BMC budget for the financial year 2010-11.

Almost Rs14.62bn($311m) will be allocated for water supplies, while Rs23.07bn ($491m) will be for work executed by the water operation department.

BMC has also allocated Rs50m ($1.06m) for consultancy services for evaluating the availability of water from the Garai river.

The civic body said it will focus on expanding the water distribution system, improving rain water harvesting, leak detection and decreasing non-revenue water.

It will not initiate new projects for 2010-11, however, due to funds being hit hard during the global economic downturn.