MUMBAI - INDIA'S financial and entertainment capital is facing a 30 per cent cut in water supplies, despite an overnight deluge of monsoon rains on Thursday that left some streets and homes flooded.

The civic authorities in Mumbai introduced the reduction on Wednesday as levels ran 'precariously low' at the six lakes that supply the city with 3.3 billion litres of water a day.

Like many Indian cities, Mumbai depends on the annual monsoon to replenish water stocks for its 18 million-strong population. The rains had been due to arrive on June 8 but only hit the city at the end of last month.

Since then, they have been intermittent. Heavy rainfall overnight on Thursday left many lower lying areas under water and forced pedestrians to wade shin-deep in muddy water.

Colaba, in south Mumbai, received 73.7 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to 11.30 am (0300 GMT), according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official Anil Diggikar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency on Wednesday: 'We are facing a shortage of 250 million litres of water per day.'

But he said that the one lake with higher levels can only supply the eastern suburbs, hitting the more prosperous southern and western parts of the metropolis.

Deputy municipal commissioner Pramod Charankar was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper that there was currently enough water only for the next 20 days in those areas unless the monsoon picked up.

Owners of swimming pools, clubs and jacuzzis have been told to reduce consumption while supply to 32 construction sites has been cut, the daily said. Five-star hotels can expect reductions, it added. 'We hope to save about 200 million litres a day from the drive,' Charankar added.

The BMC initially introduced a 10 per cent water cut on June 8 then increased that to 20 per cent on June 20. -- AFP