Fishermen, environmental activists and residents of the Manori–Gorai belt are preparing to oppose the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Rs 11,166-crore desalination project at Manori, citing environmental concerns, threats to traditional livelihoods and insufficient public consultation. A protest march, titled ‘Jan Akrosh Morcha’ and promoted as ‘Chalo Bandra’, is scheduled for Monday at 10 am outside the Mumbai Suburban Collector’s office in Bandra.
The demonstration is expected to bring together fishing unions, local villagers and environmental campaigners, with support from the Bombay Catholic Sabha. Fishing organisations, including the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti and Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, have questioned the project’s environmental consequences and financial justification. They argue that the civic administration should first address water losses caused by leakage and theft.
Residents of Gorai, Manori, Pali, Malvani, Uttan and Uran have also raised concerns over submissions made to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, alleging that certain details fail to reflect the concerns and actual circumstances of fishing communities likely to be affected. Last month, a delegation of fishermen met Maharashtra Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane to register its objections. The representatives alleged that the BMC had bypassed safeguards attached to the project’s No Objection Certificate (NOC), which were intended to protect fishing grounds and traditional livelihoods.
Switsy Henriques, president of the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, said, “The BMC has not discussed the Enviornment Assessment Study nor has held a public hearing. The project is said to be Rs 9,000 crore expensive one that too in middle of the city. When the BMC says Mumbai needs 500 MLD more water, it also acknowledges that 38% is wasted into leakages and theft. The administration should address water thefts and leakages first to ensure sufficient supply of water.”
Henriques added that approximately 2,000 people, including villagers, farmers, fishermen and activists, were expected to participate in the protest.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha also voiced its support for the campaign. In a statement, it said, “Projects such as this need to be discussed with the locals as it affects their fishing related livelihoods, damage to marine life and loss of grazing lands for farmers which was not done.
We demand that the authorities must not proceed with such a damaging project.”
The proposed plant is designed to produce 400 million litres per day (MLD). Mumbai currently receives 4,100 MLD against a demand of 4,665 MLD, with requirements projected to reach 6,424 MLD by 2041.
Groundwork has begun, and the facility is expected to be commissioned by December 2029, following a 45-month construction period. The BMC has awarded the Rs 11,166-crore project to a joint venture between GVPR Engineers Limited and IDE Technologies. Separately, a Rs 2,241.3-crore contract has been proposed for a 7.2-km underground tunnel linking the plant to the city’s distribution network.
SOurce: The Free Press Journal
