Mumbai: Despite the first proposed desalination plant at Manori village struggling to attract buyers for the past 18 months, the BMC has now invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a second plant at Versova in the Western suburbs.
200 MLD Capacity Planned
The proposed plant at Versova coastline will have a capacity of 200 million litres per day (MLD) and will be developed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
Water Demand on the Rise
Mumbai receives 3,950 ML of water daily, falling short of the 4,463 ML demand. With demand projected to rise to 6,900 ML per day by 2041, the BMC is exploring alternative water sources.
In February 2021, it appointed an Israeli firm to draft a desalination plant proposal, followed by a design review in January 2022. After receiving clearances from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the BMC floated a tender on December 4, 2023, to set up a 200 MLD desalination plant on 12 hectares land in Manori village.
The BMC has also allocated Rs 100 crore as initial funding for the desalination project in its 2025–26 budget. After multiple failed attempts to attract bidders, the civic body scrapped the earlier tender in August 2024 and invited fresh bids this year.
Private Participation Encouraged
Following four attempts, 21 companies, including firms from the Middle East and Spain, have expressed interest. However, the bid deadline was extended after prospective bidders raised several queries.
"Since we have received a good response this time, we are hopeful the Manori desalination plant will finally take off,” said a BMC official. “To avoid further delays in augmenting water supply, we are also planning a second plant at Versova. As the first of its kind, it may take time to materialise. The Versova project will follow the DBFOT model, easing the financial burden on the BMC by leveraging private investment and expertise, while ensuring public ownership in the long run,” he added.
