“Will Investigate Rebuilding Malabar Hill Reservoir Without Affecting Hanging Garden": Deepak Kesarkar

The Guardian Minister of Mumbai City, Deepak Kesarkar, is investigating the feasibility of rebuilding the Malabar Hill reservoir without affecting the Hanging Gardens. He is thinking of building an above reservoir on a single column and has asked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for help. Additional announcements include INR 1,00,000 crore being invested in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Mumbai Port Trust, and handcarts near Mumbadevi temple to be replaced with battery-operated carts. Additionally, Deepak Kesarkar suggested many Koliwada development control guidelines.

Mumbai City Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar announced on Wednesday, October 18, that he would look into the feasibility of rebuilding the Malabar Hill reservoir without affecting the famous Hanging Gardens at a press conference.

Addressing the press conference he said, “Two things need to be taken seriously. One is building a reservoir to house the 91MLD tank, and the second is the reconstruction of the Malabar Hill reservoir. Subterranean in nature, the Malabar Hill reservoir dates back 130 years. Therefore, if it is technically possible and approved by IIT Bombay, we can investigate building the above reservoir on a single column. We must strike a careful balance between enhancing the facilities and protecting Mumbai's natural beauty.”

Deepak Kesarkar made numerous statements, stating that in order to decrease traffic congestion in central Mumbai, handcarts around the Mumbadevi temple precinct would be replaced with battery-operated carts. Deepak Kesarkar said the Maharashtra Maritime Board is going to draw up a new plan for the ferries at the Gateway of India to increase their revenue.

"Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Mumbai Port Trust will receive an investment of INR 1,00,000 crore during the ongoing marine companies convention in Mumbai. The goal is to increase port capacity by fifty percent, Deepak Kesarkar said.

Building a new water reservoir at Malabar Hill might affect the cumulative age of 389 trees, which is more than 9,400 years, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data.

One of the earliest artificial water reservoirs ever built to supply the city with water on a daily basis was the Malabar Hill water reservoir, which opened in 1887. The reservoir, which has a capacity of about 150 million liters per day (MLD), is situated on a hillside directly below the Hanging Gardens. With the new reservoir, BMC intends to reach 190 MLD of capacity.

The average age of all the trees that will be chopped down is 35 years, and their total age is 6,366 years. On the other hand, the average age of all the trees that will be transplanted is 15 years.

The civic authority provided the information in response to an RTI application that activist Zoru Bhathena had submitted.

Before taking down so many trees, experts advised the authorities to improve transplantation techniques.

Civic officials have taken down the notifications to cut down the trees after local member and Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha intervened. According to a public official from the Water Supply Project (WSP) department, the project is currently on hold and if any alternate place is suggested the project could be relocated provided the new site passes all the required engineering tests.