Mumbai's population is increasing. Due to the increasing population, the demand for drinking water, i.e. fresh water, is also increasing. To meet this growing demand for water, the BMC is going to set up a desalination project in Manori to sweeten the salty sea water.
According to a report by Maharashtra Times, the BMC has recently floated a tender for this. The project will cost INR 4,400 crore. However, the project got stalled for the past three-four years even before it was started, which has increased its cost by about INR 1,000 crore.
Mumbai receives four thousand million liters of water daily from seven dams: Tansa, Modak Sagar, Madhya Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vihar and Tulsi.
This project will process seawater and provide Mumbaikars with a total of 400 million liters of water per day, 200 million liters in the first phase and 200 million liters in the second phase.
Earlier, the cost of this project was expected to be INR 3,520 crore. Now, this cost has increased by about INR 1,000 crore. The cost of designing and constructing the project is INR 3,200 crore.
Also Read: Teach cleanliness in schools: Mumbaikars share 700 suggestions on garbage bylaws
Also, after the project is completed, the maintenance and repair cost will be INR 1,200 crore for 20 years. The necessary machinery and equipment for this project will be imported from abroad. Sources informed that the project cost has also increased due to the increase in their prices in the last few years.
The tender process for the desalination project was started in December 2023. However, due to several technical issues and terms and conditions, the deadline was being extended as it was not getting a response. After canceling the tender, the civic body also decided to re-tender in the interim, but the process
Currently, water is supplied to Mumbai city and its western suburbs from the water purification plant in the Bhandup complex. Sources said that once the project in Manori is operational, there will be water left over for these five wards in the Bhandup complex. This will be the first project in Mumbai to use renewable energy.