BJP MLC Pravin Darekar Proposes Dam Near Dahisar To Address Mumbai Water Shortage
On Tuesday, BJP Legislative Council Group Leader Pravin Darekar urged the Maharashtra government to explore the feasibility of constructing a dam on forest land near Dahisar Check Naka in Mumbai. The proposal was presented as a long-term solution to address the city's growing water scarcity and distribution challenges.
Darekar raised the issue during a discussion on a Calling Attention Motion in the Legislative Council. The discussion, which focused on Mumbai's water supply challenges, was initiated by MLC Rajhans Singh. Darekar emphasized that water security has become a critical concern for the city and called on the government to conduct a detailed survey of the proposed Dahisar site.
During the debate, Darekar highlighted significant disparities in water distribution across Mumbai. He stated that while newly constructed high-rise buildings receive adequate water supply, residents living in hilly areas continue to struggle with severe shortages. Stressing the need for equal access to basic amenities, he questioned the government's current approach to ensuring equitable water distribution.
Darekar also questioned whether authorities carry out adequate assessments to evaluate water availability and the impact of additional demand on existing localities before approving new residential developments.
To address these issues, Darekar suggested that the Urban Development Department, Forest Department, and Irrigation Department jointly conduct a feasibility survey for the dam near Dahisar Check Naka. He stated that there was no apparent obstacle to exploring the proposal and asked if the government would take a policy decision on the matter.
Replying to the discussion, Urban Development Minister Uday Samant stated that the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have already decided to implement the recommendations of the Madhav Chitale Committee to strengthen Mumbai's water management.
Regarding the dam proposal, Minister Samant clarified that any construction on forest land would require a comprehensive technical assessment and prior approval from the Forest Department. He assured that the government would examine the suggestion positively once the necessary verifications are completed.
Samant added that the civic body has identified alternative measures to prevent future water shortages, including conducting inspections to disconnect unauthorized water lines.
