The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to halt the reconstruction of the historic Malabar Hill reservoir, originally slated to undergo a Rs 700 crore overhaul.
The move comes amidst mounting opposition from residents and activists concerning the felling of at least 389 trees to facilitate the construction of a new tank. After fifteen months of awarding the contract for the reservoir’s reconstruction, the BMC has opted to defer further action until the receipt of a crucial report from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. The decision on whether to proceed with the construction of an additional tank for repairing the old reservoir will hinge upon the recommendations outlined in the forthcoming report.
The deliberation surrounding the reservoir’s fate intensified following a series of expert visits to the site over the past seven months. Despite the appointment of an expert committee, comprising local residents and professors from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, opinions remained divided on the necessity of the reconstruction project. Consequently, the BMC sought the intervention of IIT Roorkee to provide a conclusive evaluation of the situation. “While we await the report from IIT Roorkee, it appears increasingly unlikely that immediate reconstruction of the reservoir is warranted,” stated a BMC official. Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive assessment, another official highlighted the importance of aligning future actions with the recommendations of the expert committee.
In a recent press conference, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the guardian minister of Mumbai Suburban district, advocated for the preservation of trees and urged the BMC to prioritize the repair of water tanks without resorting to tree felling. The decision to suspend the reservoir reconstruction has been met with relief by public representatives and citizens alike, who lauded the move as a step towards preserving Mumbai’s architectural heritage and green spaces. As the fate of the Malabar Hill reservoir hangs in the balance, the BMC remains committed to upholding transparency and seeking expert guidance to navigate the complex intersection of infrastructure development and environmental conservation.
