BMC Defends Proposed 200 MLD Manori Desalination Plant Against Environmental Objections
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has defended its proposed 200 million-litres-per-day seawater desalination plant at Manori against allegations of environmental damage and planning violations raised by a citizens' group. The civic body maintained that the project was planned following detailed marine studies, statutory clearances, and community engagement.
The response followed objections filed by the Watchdog Foundation, which claimed that the facility was not designated in Mumbai’s Development Plan 2034 and constituted an unlawful change in land use. In response, the BMC’s Executive Engineer for Water Supply Projects stated that the Development Plan framework covers the entire city with the exception of the Manori-Gorai-Uttan belt.
The civic body confirmed that the Collector of Mumbai Suburban District handed over advance possession of the site to the BMC specifically for the plant under an order issued on December 8, 2025. Addressing allegations regarding the diversion of gairan, or grazing land, the BMC said revenue classification and land-transfer matters were examined and sanctioned by state revenue authorities prior to the handover, with permissions coordinated through its Development Plan Department.
To counter concerns over the impact on marine ecosystems and local fisheries, the BMC outlined specific engineering measures. The facility's seawater intake system will keep intake velocity below 0.15 metres per second and use mesh screens to prevent impingement of marine organisms. Sludge will be separated and moved to designated sites following Maharashtra Pollution Control Board guidelines, while remaining brine will be discharged through a multiport diffuser to ensure rapid dilution.
The municipal corporation stated that the project, designed to be expandable to 400 MLD to meet city water demands, has obtained Coastal Regulation Zone clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, a Consent to Establish from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and a No-Objection Certificate from the Maharashtra Maritime Board.
While the BMC stated that public consultations were conducted during the 2021-22 Environmental Impact Assessment, alongside sessions with Gorai fishermen in March 2026 and ward-level discussions in August 2026, local representatives disputed the claim. Switsy Henriques, president of the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, stated that villagers had no knowledge of the meetings and said the group plans to submit an application under the Right to Information Act to obtain records and testimonies of the proceedings.
