The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to justify its revised demand for the full 27,698 sq m plot in Worli for the expansion of a sewage treatment plant (STP), citing rapid urban growth and redevelopment in the area. This comes after the Bombay High Court questioned the civic body over its shift from an earlier request of 17,756 sq m to seeking the entire reserved land parcel.
At a high-level meeting held on Thursday, officials discussed how increasing construction activity in Worli and nearby localities has significantly added to the sewage load, making it necessary to restore the full reservation of the plot. The meeting was chaired by BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and the civic body is expected to submit an affidavit in court next week outlining its position.
According to officials, a fresh assessment suggests that the requirement may rise to nearly 29,000 sq m. However, due to space constraints, parts of the facility may need to be developed vertically. “We had already conveyed to the court the requirement for the entire reserved plot, but we shall also be filing an affidavit concerning it,” said an official, adding that land is required not just for the plant but also for operations, vehicle movement, and maintenance. “We had two rounds of discussion on this on Thursday and have decided that the civic body needs the entire reserved plot,” the official added.
The matter gains urgency as the BMC intensifies efforts to secure the land for future infrastructure needs. In February, the civic body issued a stop-work notice to a private developer after discovering that a transit camp in Worli had encroached on land earmarked for the STP expansion. Two of the seven-storey buildings were reportedly constructed without mandatory approvals. The High Court subsequently halted further construction at the site.
Officials also flagged concerns that ongoing construction has disrupted existing sewer lines passing through the plot, raising the risk of flooding and infrastructure failure, particularly ahead of the monsoon season.
Source: The Times of India
