June 13, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now exploring the construction of a three-tier alternative water tank, with a daily capacity of 35 to 44 million litres, as part of its efforts to carry out long-delayed repairs to the 135-year-old Malabar Hill reservoir.
According to the civic body’s latest proposal, the new tank structure would include an underground tank, a ground-level tank, and a third tank positioned on an elevated floor. Water would first be channelled into the ground-level tank and subsequently pumped upwards, ensuring uninterrupted supply when compartments of the main reservoir are temporarily shut for repair. The estimated cost of the project is expected to fall between Rs 100 crore and Rs 125 crore.
However, a significant hurdle remains in the form of the Hanging Gardens, which sit directly above the reservoir and have previously stalled repair efforts due to public resistance. Officials noted that to isolate the reservoir for repair works, heavy counterweights would need to be installed atop the gardens to counteract hydrostatic pressure. This measure could restrict public access to the gardens, a concern that is still under review.
Initial repair plans were repeatedly delayed due to opposition from local residents, who feared damage to the gardens. A panel of experts in February 2024 concluded that phased reconstruction of the tanks would disrupt water supply unless a separate tank was built. This recommendation was echoed by a team from IIT-Roorkee in June 2024, which suggested constructing a 52 MLD-capacity tank.
In response, BMC has opted for a vertically built tank with reduced capacity to minimise land use and impact. The decision comes after the original Rs 698-crore plan for full reconstruction was abandoned, following sustained public opposition and political intervention.
Source: Times Of India
