Manori Residents Protest ₹11,166 Crore Desalination Plant

Manori residents gathered near the Manori ferry jetty on Friday to protest against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's proposed desalination plant at Band Dongar. The protest, organised by the Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti and Mobai Gaothan Panchayat, saw hundreds of residents from Manori and surrounding villages participate.

The residents raised concerns over the defacement of the coastline and potential damage to the local fishing industry from brine discharged by the facility. They also alleged that date palms growing on the hill have been chopped down over the past few days. The campaign against the plant dates back to 2021-22, when it was proposed as part of efforts to address Mumbai's municipal water deficit.

Lourdes D'Souza, a Gorai resident and member of the Dharavi Beth Bachao Samiti, said residents had earlier protested when landfilling material was brought to the site. She alleged that the plant would harm fishing communities along the Manori-Uttan coast and destroy a hillock overlooking the sea. The plant will affect the livelihood of the fishing community and the entire population in the area, she added.

The desalination plant tender was floated on December 4, 2023, for a 12-hectare site. GVPR Engineers Ltd secured the contract worth Rs 11,166.17 crore, including Rs 4,077 crore for construction and the remaining amount towards 20-year operations and maintenance, power, taxes and lifecycle expenses.

A 7.2-km underground tunnel from Manori to Charkop and Mahavir Nagar in Kandivali, partly passing under Gorai Creek, will connect the plant to Mumbai's water distribution network. The 3.2-metre tunnel will initially carry 200 million litres per day of desalinated water and can be augmented to 400 MLD. The plant is expected to be operational by 2029.

Mumbai consumes around 4,000 MLD of water, according to the BMC, but faces a shortfall of nearly 565 MLD. A senior civic official acknowledged residents' concerns over the impact on fishing, assuring them that the waste will be discharged in a way that minimizes harm to marine life.

The protest highlights the concerns of local communities over large-scale infrastructure projects and their potential impact on the environment and livelihoods. The BMC must balance the need for addressing Mumbai's water deficit with the concerns of local residents and ensure that the project is implemented in a sustainable and responsible manner.

The desalination plant is part of the BMC's efforts to address Mumbai's water shortage, but it must be done in a way that respects the rights and concerns of local communities. The project's impact on the fishing industry and the coastal environment must be carefully considered and mitigated.

In conclusion, the protest by Manori residents against the desalination plant highlights the need for sustainable and responsible development that takes into account the concerns of local communities. The BMC must work with residents to address their concerns and ensure that the project is implemented in a way that benefits both the city and the local community.