The long-delayed Gargai Dam, which will improve Mumbai’s water supply, will be built on 845 hectares of land in Palghar district after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave his approval. Fadnavis, who chaired the State Wildlife Board meeting on Thursday in Mantralaya, underlined the project’s significance in addressing the city’s increasing water demands as a result of its expanding population.
Once operational, the Gargai Dam is expected to supply 440 million litres of water daily (MLD) to Mumbai. This will make it the second major dam in Palghar, following the Middle Vaitarna project, which currently contributes 455 MLD.
The project, now revived by the Mahayuti government, was previously scrapped by the Mahavikas Aghadi regime in favour of a desalination plant at Manori. The estimated cost of the Gargai project stands at Rs 3,105 crore, with Rs 1,500 crore earmarked for dam construction. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will oversee its execution and has already received approvals from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the National Committee on Seismic Dam Safety.
However, the project may result in the felling of approximately 4.5 lakh trees. Fadnavis has instructed the state forest department to submit an impeccable proposal to the National Wildlife Board and secure all necessary wildlife and environmental clearances at the earliest.
In the same meeting, the chief minister also discussed the preservation of ecological corridors. He directed the use of the Centre’s Parivesh Portal maps to identify tiger movement corridors, calling for the voluntary acquisition of private land in these zones for afforestation efforts. The government will ensure land acquisition only with the consent of landowners.
Additionally, the board granted approvals to mitigate the impact of land acquisition on villagers from Janaiwadi in Chandoli National Park. It also gave the green light to a floating solar energy project within the protected area of the Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary.
Source: TOI
