BMC to review proposal to rebuild colonial-era water reservoir in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has set up a committee of experts, including IIT Bombay professors, to review the proposal to rebuild a colonial-era water reservoir constructed beneath the iconic Hanging Garden in south Mumbai.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Tuesday, December 5, that it has formed a committee of experts to assess the proposal to rebuild the colonial-era water reservoir situated beneath the famous Hanging Garden in south Mumbai. The expert panel will conduct an internal inspection of a section of the reservoir on December 7, which will result in water cuts in certain parts of the city that day.

Committee to Inspect Reservoir

The committee comprises professors from IIT Bombay, local residents, and civic officials. They will evaluate the proposal to rebuild the reservoir, which supplies water to most parts of south Mumbai. The panel is expected to recommend the appropriate procedure for rebuilding the reservoir, which was originally constructed in the 1880s in the affluent Malabar Hill area.

Water Cut in Certain Areas

On Thursday, the committee will inspect compartment number 2 of the reservoir from the inside for two hours, between 8 am and 10 am. To facilitate this inspection, the compartment will be drained, leading to a 10% to 100% reduction in water supply in some parts of the city. The BMC has made the decision to reconstruct the over-a-century-old reservoir due to leakage issues. However, local citizens and political parties have opposed the proposal, as it would require cutting down more than 300 trees.

The BMC's decision to form an expert committee to review the proposal reflects its commitment to finding a balanced solution that addresses both the need for infrastructure upgrades and the concerns of local residents. The committee's inspection and subsequent recommendations will play a crucial role in determining the future of the Hanging Garden reservoir and ensuring a reliable water supply for south Mumbai.