Mumbai's Hanging Garden to face partial closure during reservoir renovation

Mumbai's Malabar Hill reservoir, one of the oldest artificial reservoirs in the city, is in dire need of reconstruction due to its deteriorating condition.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come up with a plan to rebuild the reservoir to satisfy the water needs of the area. As part of this plan, a tank will be built behind Mumbai's Hanging Garden.

However, a recent tree assessment conducted by the BMC's horticulture department found that the construction of the tank would require the cutting down of 384 trees in the area.

To compensate for the loss of trees, the garden department has made it mandatory to plant four new trees for every tree cut down. Additionally, the BMC has identified two locations for the relocation of 188 trees from the site, including Ashoka, jackfruit, and shevga trees.

One of the locations identified for the relocated trees is a water treatment plant in Bhandup Complex, while another one is Doongerwadi's Tower of Silence, subject to approval from all its trustees. The Ashoka trees, in particular, will be cut or replanted depending on location restrictions.

The construction of the tank is necessary to isolate the Malabar Hill reservoir for renovation. The reservoir was constructed as an arch-shaped structure without columns and beams in 1885, and a small push could cause it to crumble, making it impossible to refit or restore. The tank, with a capacity of 90 million liters, will provide continuous water to South Bombay during the reconstruction process.

The Malabar Hill reservoir's renovation will be a phased process over the next seven years. The deadline for the reconstruction plan is the end of 2029. The Hanging Garden will be partially closed during the renovation process, but it will never be completely shut down.

The tank construction will take one to two years to complete. The BMC has identified 140-year-old Malabar Hill reservoir as one of the first artificial reservoirs constructed in Mumbai. The construction of the new tank and renovation of the Malabar Hill reservoir are necessary to ensure that the city's water needs are met and the safety of its residents is ensured.