September 25, 2025: Following a recent official inspection of the Malabar Hill Reservoir (MHR), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is exploring the construction of two alternative water tanks before commencing repair work. Civic authorities are currently assessing the operational feasibility of the proposals to ensure minimal environmental impact and optimal functionality.
Initially, based on recommendations from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, the BMC had planned to construct a single alternative tank with a capacity of 52 million litres per day (MLD). However, local residents raised concerns over the environmental impact, particularly the felling of trees, and suggested an alternative site for the project. BMC waterworks officials conducted a site visit last month to evaluate the proposal.
A senior civic official stated, “We have identified two potential sites: one adjacent to the reservoir and another behind the Hanging Gardens. The site next to the reservoir has limited capacity, which would necessitate constructing an additional 35 MLD tank. Operating two separate tanks poses logistical challenges, and we are currently examining the feasibility of managing both effectively. The number of trees to be removed will also be reduced.”
The Malabar Hill Reservoir, the oldest beneath the iconic Hanging Gardens, supplies 147 MLD of water daily to South Mumbai. The BMC had initially proposed a nearly Rs 1,000-crore plan to demolish and rebuild the reservoir, which would have required a 90 MLD replacement tank and impacted 389 trees, including 200 slated for transplantation. Experts from IIT Bombay later concluded that full reconstruction was unnecessary, and that repairs alone would suffice.
In February 2024, an expert panel warned that phased repairs could disrupt the water supply unless an alternative tank was constructed. Acting on IIT Roorkee’s recommendation, the BMC opted for a scaled-down vertical tank with a 35–44 MLD capacity to minimise land use and environmental impact. The original reconstruction plan was eventually scrapped following sustained public opposition.
Source: The Free Press Journal
