Construction of Mumbai’s proposed Gargai dam has been pushed back by around three months, with work now tentatively expected to begin in January 2027 instead of October this year. The project is planned to add 440 million litres per day to the city’s water supply.
The dam is being developed in Wada tehsil of Palghar district, around 110 km from Mumbai. The delay is primarily linked to pending environmental and wildlife clearances. The project requires two permissions from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), besides approval from the National Board for Wildlife.
The proposed reservoir is expected to submerge around 3,10,140 trees. Their transplantation, along with rehabilitation of affected landowners and residents, forms part of the project.
The National Board for Wildlife, which meets quarterly, has already taken up the proposal and is expected to grant approval at its next meeting, according to an official. The MoEFCC clearance is currently progressing through the state-level process.
A civic official said the BMC-appointed contractor is expected to receive the required permissions by January, after which tree transplantation and rehabilitation work can begin. “The alternative land for the same is not an issue anymore. Meanwhile, soil testing, designing, and planning of the project are ongoing,” said an official.
The civic body has initially sought around Rs 400 crore from this financial year’s budget allocation, as much of the period was expected to be spent securing clearances. “As the work begins, we will be drawing much more heavily from the sanctioned budget,” said the official.
A senior civic official said, “The onset of construction won’t be in October as expected, due to two permissions that are awaited. We are pressing on it, and work should begin before January”
The dam is estimated to take four years to construct, with completion targeted for 2028 along with the tunnel connecting it to Modak Sagar. Allied works are expected to continue until 2030. The overall project has an approved outlay of Rs 5,000 crore, including Rs 3,100 crore for construction.
Source: Mid-day
