Manori Residents Protest BMC’s ₹11,166 Crore Desalination Plant Over Coastal And Fishing Concerns

Mumbai: Hundreds of residents of Manori and surrounding villages gathered near the Manori ferry jetty on Friday morning to protest against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposed desalination plant at Band Dongar.

Protesters raised concerns over the defacement of the coastline and potential damage to the local fishing industry from brine discharged by the facility. Residents also alleged that date palms, locally called khajur, growing on the hill have been chopped down over the past few days.

Residents Fear Impact On Fishing Community And Coastal Environment

The campaign against the plant dates back to 2021-22, when it was proposed as part of efforts to address Mumbai’s municipal water deficit. Lourdes D’Souza, a Gorai resident and member of the Dharavi Beth Bachao Samiti, said residents had earlier protested when landfilling material was brought to the site.

Opposition To Project Dates Back To 2021-22 Planning Phase

“Aaditya Thackeray was the environment minister then. The work was stalled after the Covid pandemic,” D’Souza said. She alleged the plant would harm fishing communities along the Manori-Uttan coast and destroy a hillock overlooking the sea. “The plant will affect the livelihood of the fishing community and the entire population in the area. The hill should not be destroyed,” she added.

The protest was organised by the Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) and Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP), representing the native inhabitants of Mumbai’s erstwhile islands. Residents from Uttan, Bhayandar and Vasai also participated.

Locals Claim Community Was Not Consulted Before Project Approval

Walter Murzello, trustee of the MGP, said the local community was not consulted before the project was finalised. “The plant will ruin the beautiful hill and wastewater from it will destroy marine life. The BMC put up boards announcing the project without discussing it with residents,” he said.

The desalination plant tender was floated on December 4, 2023, for a 12-hectare site. GVPR Engineers Ltd secured the contract worth Rs 11,166.17 crore, including Rs 4,077 crore for construction and the remaining amount towards 20-year operations and maintenance, power, taxes and lifecycle expenses.

Underground Tunnel To Connect Manori Plant With Mumbai Water Network

A 7.2-km underground tunnel from Manori to Charkop and Mahavir Nagar in Kandivali, partly passing under Gorai Creek, will connect the plant to Mumbai’s water distribution network. The 3.2-metre tunnel will initially carry 200 million litres per day (MLD) of desalinated water and can be augmented to 400 MLD. The plant is expected to be operational by 2029.

Mumbai consumes around 4,000 MLD of water, according to the BMC, but faces a shortfall of nearly 565 MLD.

A senior civic official acknowledged residents’ concerns over the impact on fishing. “We have assured them that the waste will be discharged into the deep sea and will not interfere with fishing operations. We are also considering their demand for priority in employment opportunities at the project site. All requisite clearances have been obtained,” the official said.

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