Efforts to prevent untreated sewage from entering Powai Lake have been significantly intensified, and cautious appreciation has been expressed by residents and environmental groups. Approximately 18 million litres of wastewater, previously discharged into the 210-hectare wetland through 18 inlets, are being redirected under a comprehensive diversion plan undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
During a recent site inspection attended by MLA Dilip Bhausaheb Lande and representatives of the Powai Advanced Local Management committee, progress updates were shared by civic officials. It was confirmed that 1.1 kilometres of the proposed 2.4-kilometre pipeline had already been laid along the lake’s edge. Thirteen labour teams have been deployed across different sections of the alignment, and completion has been targeted for May 2026. The diversion mechanism has been designed to intercept multiple sewage outlets, including seven to eight located near the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus. Sewer lines originating within the campus are to be managed independently by the institute.
As part of the interim arrangement, diverted sewage is to be routed to the upgraded Bhandup Pumping Station, where capacity is being enhanced to handle 225 million litres per day. Meanwhile, the construction of an 8 MLD sewage treatment plant near Suvarna Mandir has been planned, with a projected completion timeline of two years.
However, environmental concerns have been raised regarding the proposal to transplant 122 trees at the treatment plant site, where a total of 212 trees are reported to exist. It has been highlighted that transplantation efforts in Mumbai have historically resulted in survival rates below 40 per cent, as pointed out by the NatConnect Foundation. Alternative alignments have been urged by citizen representatives to minimise tree loss, particularly in view of deteriorating air quality and declining green cover across the city.
The sewage diversion initiative has been described as a long-awaited breakthrough following years of inaction. Earlier attempts to mechanically remove aquatic weeds had reportedly failed because nutrient-rich sewage inflow had continued unabated, undermining restoration efforts.
Powai Lake, once used as a drinking water source and now designated as a notified wetland, is known to support marsh crocodiles and diverse biodiversity. Over time, it has been transformed into a symbol of sustained citizen-led environmental vigilance. While progress in sewage diversion has been welcomed, it has been consistently maintained by residents and environmental advocates that ecological restoration must be achieved without compromising the mature tree cover that serves as a natural protective barrier for the lake.