Mumbai: In a significant development, the IIT Roorkee team, after inspecting the Malabar Hill Reservoir, has orally informed civic authorities that the reservoir can be repaired instead of being reconstructed. However, the team also emphasized that the section of the reservoir under repair cannot be utilized during the repair work. A detailed official report from IIT Roorkee is still awaited, as confirmed by senior authorities.
In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated plans to ensure that the city’s water supply remains uninterrupted during the repair period. “We need to determine the size and capacity of a potential alternative tank if required,” stated a senior BMC officer. He reassured residents that even if an alternative tank is proposed, it will not result in the felling of trees or affect the Hanging Gardens.
The reservoir has faced multiple inspections in recent months, necessitating its temporary emptying, which has disrupted water supply to several parts of South Mumbai. Following a protracted ten-month dispute with the civic authorities, Malabar Hill MLA MP Lodha announced on Friday that the Rs 698 crore reconstruction plan for the reservoir would be scrapped in favour of repairs. “The reconstruction tender will be scrapped within the next seven days,” Lodha stated.
The BMC official highlighted that discussions with the IIT Roorkee team concluded that the reservoir is structurally sound and does not require complete reconstruction. The reservoir, with a total capacity of 147 million litres per day (MLD), can be filled at various intervals, although its usable capacity at any one time is 80 MLD. “Our primary focus is to execute repairs without affecting the water supply,” the official added.
The original tender had included the construction of an alternative tank, which would have encroached upon Shantivan Gardens, located adjacent to the Hanging Garden. This area is home to a significant number of trees, raising environmental concerns.
Constructed in 1887, the Malabar Hill Reservoir (MHR) supplies water to various areas through 19 different distribution systems. Initially built with three compartments—1A, 1B, and 2A—it was extended in 1907 with compartments 1C and 2B. In 1916, it was converted into a storage reservoir. The gardens atop the reservoir were first laid around 1886-87 and later relaid in 1938-1939, after the roof of the garden was united.
As the city prepares for the necessary repairs, the BMC is focused on minimizing disruptions and maintaining a steady water supply to the affected areas. The civic body’s efforts to balance infrastructural improvements with environmental preservation continue to be a priority in this critical project.
