The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated a tender worth INR 3,000 crore tender to build a dam on the Gargai river in Palghar district after a decade. As the eighth water source of Mumbai, this dam will supply 440 million litres (MLD) of water to the city.
It will cost an estimated INR 3,040 crore. This cost covers the construction of the dam, along with the cost for environmental clearances required for the project.
This will be the first dam that the BMC will be constructing for water supply within Mumbai’s city and suburban region. Prior to this, the Middle Vaitarna Dam became operational in 2014.
A senior official said that a 69-metre high dam and a 1.6-km water supply tunnel of 2.2 metres in diameter will be constructed in this project.
The project is the brainchild of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who mooted it in 2015 during his previous term as CM, aiming to boost supply of potable water in Mumbai.
The BMC is eyeing a 2029 completion, a year that coincides with the Lok Sabha polls and assembly elections.
The water from the Gargai reservoir will be released into the Modak Sagar reservoir through this tunnel, from where it will supply water to Mumbai.
The civic body also plans to develop a permanent guesthouse, a hall and an office-cum-administrative complex near the reservoir.
The proposed dam in Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary will result in the removal of 658 hectares of forest land.
Also, two villages, Ogda and Khodada, will be completely submerged. While Pachghar, Tilmal, Phanasgaon and Amle will be partially affected.
The project-affected people will be relocated to 400 hectares of Forest Development Corporation land in Deoli in Palghar district.
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