Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is poised to begin construction on the Kondhane Dam, a significant infrastructure project aimed at bolstering water supply for Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas.
Situated on the Ulhas River in Raigad district, the dam is expected to be a critical resource for the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) and adjacent regions. Originally slated for development by the irrigation department, the project was officially transferred to CIDCO by a state cabinet decision in 2017. However, progress had stalled until recently, with CIDCO now issuing tenders in anticipation of awarding the work order prior to the upcoming assembly elections.
CIDCO Managing Director stated, “The dam is projected to be completed within the next four years and will address the water needs of the new township for at least the next three decades.” The Kondhane Dam’s budget has experienced substantial revisions over the years. Initially estimated at INR 56.16 crore in 2006-07, the cost surged to INR 614 crore by 2012, drawing attention due to alleged corruption in the irrigation sector. The project’s cost was later adjusted to INR 443.94 crore with an increased dam height proposal that was ultimately not approved.
The BJP government revived the dam project in 2017, transferring it to CIDCO, which has since paid INR 99 crore to the irrigation department for its acquisition. Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania, who previously highlighted issues within the irrigation sector, expressed concerns about the transparency of the new tendering process. “It is crucial that the online tendering is conducted fairly to prevent issues like those encountered previously,” she remarked.
The Kondhane Dam will require approximately 400 hectares of land and is designed to support a population of 1,850,000 people based on a per capita water requirement of 135 litres per day. The dam’s construction will involve the displacement of two villages—Kondhane and Chochi—affecting 118 families who will be relocated approximately 8 kilometres away. Other impacted villages include Udewai, Kune, and Nandgaon.
Current water supplies for Navi Mumbai come from various sources, including the Hetawane Water Supply Scheme, Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran’s Patalganga Project, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s Morbe Dam, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s Barvi Dam. The Kondhane Dam is expected to significantly enhance water availability and support the growing demands of the region.
