So we are at it again. It is the month of April and the PMC has started making those formal statements about water cuts. Each year they do it and, they also repeat the reasons as to why there is a water problem. Namely:

• lack of a map/structure of the water pipe network
• a significant percentage of the water pipes being broken down due to rust resulting in water loss
• valves at important junctions cannot control/regulate the water pressure leading to water loss
• unregulated water loss from the public outlets
• most of the reservoirs are around 40% of their water capacity
• rain water harvesting is not widely adopted across housing societies
• "tanker mafia"

This drama will continue till around mid-May and thereafter folks-in-power will decide on a 60% cut till the rains put in enough water. And each year I will wonder what prevents them from putting some scheduled percentage cuts right at the beginning of the season - say, 20% right when it is mid-March ? When you are running short of cash, you don't usually splurge till your pockets are empty and then suck ice-cubes do you ?