BMC takes first step towards compliance with Bombay HC's order to restore Powai Lake

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally floated a tender to restore Powai Lake to its original condition, a year after the Bombay High Court (HC) disallowed the construction of a 10-kilometer cycle track around its banks a year ago.

The engineer responsible for overseeing water works in Mumbai's eastern suburbs stated that the restoration will be completed before the onset of monsoon. The decision came after the BMC withdrew a special leave petition it had filed before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to overturn the HC’s order in September 2020.

The proposed cycle track, which was deemed illegal as it violated the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, drew opposition from activists, environmentalists, and local residents. One of the original petitioners against the project, city-based NGO Vanashakti, had the option to file a contempt petition against the BMC had it not complied with the HC’s order.

Activists and petitioners contended that building the cycling track would adversely impact the habitat of Indian marsh crocodiles and harm the wetlands ecosystem. An intervention application filed by activist Zoru Bathena claimed that there was no need for a separate track for cycling as there was already a six-kilometer road bordering the lake. IITians also raised their concerns about the disruption of the natural ecology of the lake.

However, the BMC first opposed these PILs, calling them "misconceived." The project sought to build a new, open space similar to Worli Sea Face. It had argued that the lake, being a man-made reservoir, did not fall under the purview of wetlands.

The HC ordered the BMC to follow with SC's 2009 ruling that placed a strong emphasis on protecting wetlands and to restore the reclaimed area of the lake bank to its former condition. The first action taken to ensure greater compliance with the HC's order is the BMC's choice to flog the tender to restore Powai Lake to its original state.

This signifies that the cycle track development is no longer being pursued, and the restoration work will commence soon. The BMC's compliance with the HC's order is vital as the project's opposition by activists, environmentalists, and petitioners reflects their growing concerns about the ecosystem's preservation and conservation.