Water Crisis In Mira-Bhayandar To Ease By Diwali: 218 MLD Supply Announced

Even as residents of the Vasai-Virar region continue to struggle with erratic and insufficient water supply, there is hope for better water availability for the neighbouring Mira-Bhayandar area, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. Authorities have announced a significant development-218 million litres per day (MLD) of water will be made available to Mira-Bhayandar by Diwali 2025, sourced from the Surya Dam in Palghar district.

This water supply boost is part of the Surya Regional Water Supply Scheme, a long-awaited project by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project, which has been in the planning stages for over a decade, aims to eventually deliver 403 MLD of potable water across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Photo Credit: PTI

Phased Rollout Of The Scheme

The project is being implemented in phases. The first phase, completed in January 2024, delivered 185 MLD of water to the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) area. The second phase will focus on Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), supplying an additional 218 MLD once the infrastructure is fully ready.

Maharashtra Transport Minister and Ovala-Majiwada MLA, Pratap Sarnaik, who represents the area, stated, "I visited the Surya Dam and conducted a review with MMRDA officials. We are working to ensure that by this Diwali, residents and businesses in Mira-Bhayandar will begin receiving 218 MLD of water." His constituency covers nearly half of Mira-Bhayandar, one of the fastest-growing urban regions in the MMR.

Challenges To Overcome

Despite the positive development, there are still significant challenges to overcome. The distribution network within the MBMC area is under construction, with work on laying pipelines and building essential infrastructure such as the Master Balancing Reservoir (MBR) still ongoing.

One of the main hurdles is securing an electricity connection to power the reservoir. This requires the installation of high-tension power lines through forested areas, which could take up to six months to complete. Only once this is finished can the water supply to Mira-Bhayandar commence.

The Rs 425 crore pipeline project from Chene Hillock to the densely populated areas of MBMC has been under development for the past 18 months. With the Mira-Bhayandar area experiencing rapid urban growth, the pressure on civic services continues to rise. According to the 2011 Census, the population of Mira-Bhayandar stood at 8.09 lakh, but current estimates suggest the number has nearly doubled, further straining the local infrastructure.

Currently, MBMC receives 221 MLD of water-135 MLD from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and 86 MLD from the Shahad Temghar Water Authority (STWA). However, due to issues such as leakages, transmission losses, and theft, only around 192 MLD of this water reaches households.

Water Woes In Vasai-Virar

While progress is being made in Mira-Bhayandar, the situation remains dire for residents of Vasai-Virar. Despite being connected to the Surya project since January, the water supply has faced persistent technical issues. A recent transformer failure at the Surya Nagar Water Purification Centre disrupted operations at the Kavdas Pumping Station, leaving large areas of Vasai-Virar without water.

As both regions look towards improvements in their water supply systems, it is clear that ongoing infrastructure upgrades are essential to meet the needs of these fast-growing urban areas.