A controversy has arisen over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s proposed alternative water tank with a capacity of 52 million liters per day (MLD) for the Malabar Hill Reservoir (MHR) renovation project in Mumbai. Local residents have alleged that the project is unnecessary and a waste of public funds.
Citizens have written to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide requesting a meeting to discuss the matter.
Additionally, the citizen organization Hanging Garden Environment Protection Group has demanded that the project be put on hold until residents can evaluate its necessity, feasibility, and reliability.
According to the plan, an alternative tank will be constructed on the plot behind the Hanging Gardens, above the existing reservoir. BMC claims this project is essential to ensure uninterrupted water supply during the reservoir’s renovation.
Under the revised plan, since the tank falls within the "Funnel of Vision" area, approval from the State Urban Development Department is mandatory. This means the project may be subjected to further scrutiny.
Citizens have alleged that the proposal for the 52 MLD tank is based on incorrect and manipulated reports obtained illegally by BMC engineers.
Serious allegations have also been made that external consultants are being involved to push the project forward through collusion among engineers, contractors, and project advisors.
The cost of this alternative tank is estimated at INR 300– INR 500 crore, and it will require substantial energy expenditure to pump water daily. Residents point out that currently, there is no pumping cost for the water reaching the MHR.
They argue that once the existing reservoir is repaired, it will be capable of meeting future demand, making this tank entirely unnecessary. Residents have demanded that experts examine the structural strength of the reservoir.
The Malabar Hill Reservoir, over a hundred years old, supplies around 147 MLD of water daily to South Mumbai. A 2022 audit revealed structural defects, prompting BMC to approve a reconstruction plan costing around INR 698 crore, including a new tank with a 90 MLD capacity.
Construction began in 2023; however, a notice to remove trees in the Hanging Gardens triggered strong local opposition.
Due to mounting resistance, BMC withdrew its plan to demolish and rebuild the reservoir and opted for phased renovation instead. This new plan created the need for an alternative tank.
The revised plan limits the impact on trees to 76, minimizing environmental damage. Nevertheless, local opposition continues, questioning the project’s necessity.
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