BJP asks BMC to reconsider ₹1600 crore desalination project approved by CM Thackeray

Days after the Maharashtra Chief Minister approved a desalination project worth ₹1600 crore, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ashish Shelar questioned the necessity of the project and urged the Bhrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to review it.

On November 23, Uddhav Thackeray approved the setting up of a 200 million litres per day (MLD) desalination plant in Mumbai. The proposed plant, which will cost around INR 1,600 crore, will come up at Manori in Malad.

Taking to Twitter, BJP leader Ashish Shelar asked, “Is there a need for ₹1,600 crore project to desalinate 200 million litres of seawater daily?  How justified is it to implement such an expensive project.”

Demand REVIEW by MVA Govt/BMC
of 200 Mn lit/day ₹1600 cr water desalination project !
Is this costly proj justified ?
When
Stopping Mumbai's daily water leakage will provide Mumbai 200% more water than 200 MLD plant
At 40% of ₹1600 cr desalination plant cost ! 1/3

— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) November 24, 2020

He also stated that rather than having a plant of this nature, it will be more cost-effective to stop leakage and through the same 200 litres of water can be saved. In his tweet, he mentioned that on daily basis, around 3,800 billion litres of water is supplied to Mumbai, and 900 billion litres of water is wasted due to various leakages.

Some Facts
❗️Mumbai's daily water supply=3800 mn lit/day
❗️Mumbai water supply lost due to leaks=800+mn Litres/day !
❗️As per BMC & intl benchmarks- minimum 10% of water leakage or 380mn lit/day can be SAVED ! 2/3

— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) November 24, 2020

Boasting about his efforts, he said that in his H/West Ward, through a pilot project around 100 crore litres of water was saved.

In my H/West ward, we stopped 100cr lit/yr water leak via pilot project , thru my efforts !
Across 24 BMC wards, wont 200 + Mn Lit/ Day water be saved??
So
Question remains
Who benefits from this ₹1600 crore project ?
Mumbai or ....? 3/3

— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) November 24, 2020

Raising a query as to why no effort is being made by the civic body to save water, he asked, “Why the BMC does not make an effort to save the water which gets wasted in its 24 administrative wards? Who all will benefit after this ₹1600 crore project is being implemented?”

While approving the project, Thackeray said that desalinating seawater will help reduce the inconvenience caused to the people by these water cuts, especially during the months of May and June. Similar projects have been implemented successfully in several countries. However, the project work may take around two-and-half to three years to complete.

He said the seawater quality at Manori is good and since there is no human habitation, the project can be completed without delay. The project is proposed to be set up on an area of 25 to 30 acres and its capacity can be enhanced from the planned 200 MLD in future, the statement said.