**Mumbai: BMC Considers Two Alternative Water Tanks Before Repairing Malabar Hill Reservoir**
Following a recent official inspection of the Malabar Hill Reservoir (MHR), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is contemplating the construction of two alternative water tanks prior to commencing repair work. The civic authorities are currently evaluating the operational feasibility of these alternatives to ensure minimal environmental impact and optimal functionality.
### Original Plan and Environmental Concerns
Initially, based on recommendations from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, the BMC planned to build a single alternative water tank with a capacity of 52 million litres per day (MLD). However, to mitigate environmental concerns, particularly the felling of trees, residents of Malabar Hill proposed an alternative location for the project.
Responding to this suggestion, officials from the BMC’s waterworks department conducted a site visit last month to assess the feasibility of the proposed location.
### Two Sites Identified for Proposed Tanks
A senior civic official stated, “We have identified two proposed sites: one adjacent to the reservoir and another behind the Hanging Gardens. However, the site next to the reservoir has limited capacity, necessitating the construction of an additional 35 MLD tank. Managing two separate tanks would pose operational challenges, so we are currently assessing the feasibility of operating both alternatives effectively.”
The official also confirmed that this approach would reduce the number of trees that need to be felled.
### Background of Malabar Hill Reservoir Repairs
The Malabar Hill Reservoir, the oldest reservoir located beneath the iconic Hanging Gardens, supplies 147 MLD of water daily to South Mumbai. The BMC had initially proposed a nearly Rs 1,000-crore plan to demolish and reconstruct the reservoir. This plan required building a 90 MLD replacement tank, which would impact 389 trees, including 200 earmarked for transplantation.
Subsequently, experts from IIT-Bombay concluded that a complete reconstruction was unnecessary and that repairs would suffice.
### Scaled-Down Repair Plan Adopted
In February 2024, an expert panel warned that phased repairs would disrupt the water supply unless an alternative tank was constructed. Acting on an IIT-Roorkee recommendation, the BMC decided on a scaled-down, vertical tank with a 35–44 MLD capacity to minimize land use and environmental impact.
Following sustained public opposition, the original reconstruction plan was ultimately scrapped.
*Also Watch:*
Scaled-Down Repair Plan Adopted for Malabar Hill Reservoir
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