Amid rising temperatures and concerns over dwindling water reserves, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated plans to restore two historic lakes in Mumbai’s western suburbs—Bhujale Talao and Kamal Talao. Once important sources of drinking water for residents of Malad and Kandivali before urbanisation transformed the region, the lakes have fallen into neglect over the years.
During a recent site visit, Union Minister and North Mumbai MP Piyush Goyal reviewed the progress of the project and said the restoration work is expected to be completed within six months. “These lakes will serve as lungs for Mumbai and will improve the overall environmental condition in these areas. Plus, the lakes and the surrounding greenery will also help control pollution,” he said.
The restoration of Bhujale Talao and Kamal Talao forms part of a broader plan to rejuvenate nine lakes across North Mumbai through a public-private partnership model. Civic officials said the initiative is aimed at improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity and creating accessible public spaces for residents.
According to officials, the first phase of work at Bhujale Talao is already underway, with nearly 90 metric tonnes of silt removed from the lake bed. Following desilting, the surrounding area will be upgraded with walking tracks, landscaped gardens and recreational facilities.
Residents recall that before piped water networks reached the suburbs, local communities depended on freshwater lakes such as Bhujale Talao for daily needs. Over time, however, the expansion of infrastructure reduced reliance on these water bodies.
“Later, during the 1980s, the authorities initiated the construction of the link road and pipelines were built at the same time. As a result, people’s dependency on the lakes reduced, and gradually the lakes were used only for dumping waste and immersing Ganesh idols. The civic body also reduced the frequency of cleanup in these lakes,” said Ramesh Sharma, 71, a local resident.
Spread across seven acres, Kamal Talao in Marve is also home to migratory bird species. Civic officials said the restoration project is expected to improve water quality, strengthen local ecosystems and contribute to climate moderation and flood mitigation across surrounding neighbourhoods.
Source: The Indian Express
