The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a decisive step towards bolstering the city’s water supply, floating a tender for the construction of a dam on the Gargai River in Palghar district. Planned as Mumbai’s eighth water source, the project is expected to add 450 million litres per day (MLD) to the city’s distribution network at an estimated cost of ₹3,040 crore. The initiative follows the successful commissioning of the Middle Vaitarna Dam in 2014, addressing Mumbai’s growing water demand.
According to civic officials, the project entails building a 69-metre-tall dam and a 1.6-kilometre water supply tunnel with a diameter of 2.2 metres. Water from the Gargai reservoir will be directed through this tunnel to the Modak Sagar reservoir, from where it will enter Mumbai’s supply system. Alongside the dam, the BMC plans to develop a guest house, an auditorium, and an administrative complex at the reservoir’s periphery to support operational management. The dam is to be constructed within the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, occupying 658 hectares of forest land. Two villages, Ogda and Khodada, will be fully submerged, while four others—Pachghar, Tilmal, Phanasgaon, and Amle—will be partially affected. Project-affected persons will be relocated to 400 hectares of Forest Development Corporation land in Devli taluka.
Environmental impact remains a critical consideration. The project will necessitate the felling of approximately 3.1 lakh trees. While clearances have been secured from the National Wildlife Board, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), and the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), additional approval from the Union Environment Ministry is required given the scale of tree loss. To offset deforestation, the BMC has already earmarked land in Chandrapur district for compensatory afforestation. Industry experts emphasise the importance of balancing urban water security with ecological sustainability. “Water infrastructure is vital for Mumbai’s resilience, but it must be integrated with stringent environmental safeguards and inclusive resettlement policies,” said a senior urban planner. The project is expected to take six years for completion once construction begins, and officials indicate it will provide a long-term solution to the city’s persistent water shortages.
The Gargai Dam project reflects Mumbai’s evolving approach to urban water management, focusing on augmenting supply while incorporating planning for environmental mitigation and community rehabilitation. For a megacity reliant on monsoon-fed reservoirs, such initiatives are critical to ensuring uninterrupted water access amid population growth, climate variability, and infrastructure pressures. As the project moves forward, close monitoring by civic authorities, environmental agencies, and independent auditors will be key to maintaining a balance between urban development, ecosystem conservation, and the livelihoods of affected communities.
Mumbai Launches Tender For Gargai Dam To Boost Water Supply
