Mumbai’s proposed desalination plant is facing mounting resistance from environmental organisations and coastal fishing communities over plans to remove 971 trees and concerns about the project’s impact on marine biodiversity and traditional livelihoods.
The Watchdog Foundation, represented by advocates Godfrey Pimenta, Nicholas Almeida and Vivian D’Souza, has submitted an objection to the BMC Tree Authority, urging it to withhold approval for tree removal until all statutory, environmental and planning requirements are met.
The foundation acknowledged the need to strengthen Mumbai’s water supply but argued that it should not involve extensive damage to the city’s green cover. It questioned whether the project had been assessed under the Development Plan 2034 and whether the necessary land-use permissions had been obtained. It also sought details of alternative locations and designs that could reduce the number of trees affected.
“The authorities need to make public the complete inventory of trees proposed to be felled, including their species, age, location and condition, along with the tree-felling plan, environmental assessments and compensatory plantation details.”
The organisation has called for an independent tree assessment, public consultations and priority for preserving existing mature trees, noting that new saplings cannot fully replace their ecological value.
Fishing Communities Raise Marine Concerns
Residents and fishing communities across Manori, Gorai, Uttan and Madh have also opposed the project. They fear that extracting large volumes of seawater and releasing concentrated brine into the Arabian Sea could alter salinity levels, affect fish breeding areas and disrupt the marine food chain. There are also concerns that fish eggs and smaller organisms could be drawn into the plant’s intake system.
Protests began in March 2026, when fishermen from Gorai and Manori objected to drilling and survey activities. On October 19, more than 800 fishermen and villagers demonstrated outside the suburban collector’s office in Bandra, seeking cancellation of the project and a construction halt.
A delegation led by Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap met Collector Saurabh Katiyar, requesting a review of approvals, a formal hearing and a stay on construction. Protesters also questioned the absence of a Fisheries Department NOC.
They urged the BMC to address water leakage and improve distribution before pursuing the project. The controversy comes amid a separate proposal to cut or transplant 1,039 trees for Goregaon-Mulund Link Road-related works.
Source: Hindustan Times
