Mumbai’s Hanging Gardens to be Uprooted Due to Reservoir Restoration

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will undertake the rebuilding of the Malabar Hill reservoir situated below Hanging Gardens. This project will see the uprooting of the popular terraced gardens in order to access the large water storage tank underneath which provides water to residents of D-ward. 

The restoration of the reservoir will cost ₹300 crores, officials said adding that the paperwork has already begun. However, works will not begin for at least a year and a half. 

The civic body plans to conduct the required works in six phases. The first phase will involve building an additional chamber to accompany the five existing chambers below the garden. 

Read - Mumbai's Malabar Hill Area To Get Tree-Top Walkway

The purpose of this project is to provide non-stop water supply to residents of the region. While the garden will be uprooted to reconstruct the older chambers, officials clarified that they will take this up only after building the new compartment and shifting the existing pipelines.

“They may have to be transplanted and the revamp of the garden will have to be done post the completion of the project. For the transplant, permissions from the tree authority are yet to be taken as the extent of the damage is yet to be accessed,” an official said on the potential impact of the project. 

The estimated completion date for this project is five years with the water capacity increasing from 143 million litres to 191 million litres, as per mid-day. When finished, it will significantly improve water supply to neighbourhoods such as Girgaum, Malabar Hill, Peddar Road, and Tardeo.

“While smaller maintenance has been routinely taking place, this is for the first time in over 140 years the reservoir would be rebuilt completely. It was essentially built as a filter bed for storing water and was later used as a reservoir, and the BMC continued its use similarly,” an official said under anonymity.

The project has reportedly received the requisite approvals including a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance. 

Also read - BMC Reconstructs Malabar Hill Road In Six Months