As water shortage becomes a matter of grave concern, Corporators cutting across party lines feel the local civic body is not doing enough to protect and maintain 28 reservoirs in the metropolis.

They complain the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has been careless on security and maintenance of reservoirs, which have fallen prey to encroachments.

According to the Hydraulic Department sources, of the 28 reservoirs, half a dozen are in bad condition. These are at Malabar Hill, Worli, Pali Hill, Malad, Powai and Bhandup.

"In my area (Pali Hill), the reservoir is facing safety and security issues. There is no security wall and fencing. I have raised this point several times with the MCGM but nothing has happened. Now a multi-storeyed complex is going to come adjoining the reservoir wall. How can the civic body give permission for the complex," wondered BJP Corporator Ashish Shelar.

Shelar suggested the civic body, ruled by the Shiv Sena-BJP combine, must concentrate on security aspect and promote greenery across the reservoirs so that "we can have a catchment area".

"The Malabar Hill reservoir is 130-year-old and there is an illegal temple around it. Devotees might throw garlands in the reservoir polluting its water. Also, there is no protection wall which has led to encroachments," Congress Corporator Pramod Madrekar said.

"Most of the reservoirs are about 60-70 years old and so there is an urgent need to maintain them properly. The civic body must allocate some fund to re-construct them," NCP Corporator Niyaz Vanu said.

"Today when the city is facing water problem the reservoirs are full of encroachers. There is no retaining wall, chowkies. The civic body is doing very little to get rid of slums on reservoir land which has become a matter of concern now," Vanu said.