BMC’s desalination plant project likely to begin this year

03 Jan 2023 CW Team

Mumbai currently obtains its daily water supply from seven lakes. During the monsoon, their catchment areas are full, and water is then distributed throughout the city via pipelines. Though the city has a daily requirement for 4,400 million litres per day (MLD), BMC can only supply roughly 3,800 MLD — a 500-600 MLD gap.

In order to alleviate Mumbai's water issue, the BMC proposed building a desalination plant that would deliver 200 MLD of water to inhabitants. Given the possibility of a population expansion in the coming years, an additional provision of boosting the capacity to 400 MLD has been kept open for this facility. The desalination plant will be built on a 12-hectare plot of land in Manori village, a beach hamlet in suburban Mumbai's northernmost outskirts, in 2021.

The estimated cost of building this facility is Rs 16 billion, with an additional Rs 19 billion spent on operations and maintenance over a 20-year period. BMC hired a consultant in January 2022 to undertake a feasibility study and evaluate the project's plans. The concept for this Mumbai plant was inspired by existing desalination facilities in Israel. BMC also signed an MoU in 2022 with an Israeli firm to develop a detailed project report (DPR) on the planned facility, which was submitted to BMC in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The final draft of the tender has been completed, and tenders for the same January end date may be floated. Construction is expected to begin in 2023-mid, with the facility expected to be fully operational in three to four years.

Also Read
Railways releases energy-efficiency plan to reach 2030 net-zero goal
PM Modi inaugurates Kolkata Metro’s Joka-Taratala route

The ambitious project of constructing a desalination plant by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expected to commence in 2023, with the civic body aiming to seek tenders for the project by the end of January. The plant, which would be an industrial facility, would desalinate water from the Arabian Sea, making it acceptable for drinking and cultivation. Mumbai currently obtains its daily water supply from seven lakes. During the monsoon, their catchment areas are full, and water is then distributed throughout the city via pipelines. Though the city has a daily requirement for 4,400 million litres per day (MLD), BMC can only supply roughly 3,800 MLD — a 500-600 MLD gap. In order to alleviate Mumbai's water issue, the BMC proposed building a desalination plant that would deliver 200 MLD of water to inhabitants. Given the possibility of a population expansion in the coming years, an additional provision of boosting the capacity to 400 MLD has been kept open for this facility. The desalination plant will be built on a 12-hectare plot of land in Manori village, a beach hamlet in suburban Mumbai's northernmost outskirts, in 2021. The estimated cost of building this facility is Rs 16 billion, with an additional Rs 19 billion spent on operations and maintenance over a 20-year period. BMC hired a consultant in January 2022 to undertake a feasibility study and evaluate the project's plans. The concept for this Mumbai plant was inspired by existing desalination facilities in Israel. BMC also signed an MoU in 2022 with an Israeli firm to develop a detailed project report (DPR) on the planned facility, which was submitted to BMC in the fourth quarter of 2022. The final draft of the tender has been completed, and tenders for the same January end date may be floated. Construction is expected to begin in 2023-mid, with the facility expected to be fully operational in three to four years. Also Read Railways releases energy-efficiency plan to reach 2030 net-zero goal PM Modi inaugurates Kolkata Metro’s Joka-Taratala route

Building Material

12 Sep 2025

Trishakti Industries Secures Major Tata Steel Order

Trishakti Industries Limited has secured a significant order from Tata Steel Ltd for the deployment of advanced machinery and skilled manpower at one of the steel major’s flagship project sites.The contract, awarded domestically, involves the hiring of machines along with manpower, with execution set to be completed by 20th September 2025. The initial contract period is 12 months. The total fresh capital expenditure for the project is approximately Rs 1.5 million, while the overall contract value is expected to exceed Rs 5 million inclusive of taxes.This order marks a reinforcement of top-ti..

Real Estate

12 Sep 2025

Kalpataru Projects Secures Rs 27.2 Billion in New Orders

Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL), a leading EPC player in the power transmission and distribution (T&D) and civil infrastructure sector, along with its international subsidiaries, has received new orders and notifications for projects worth approximately Rs 27.2 billion.The projects include:Power Transmission & Distribution (T&D) initiatives in India and overseas.Buildings and Factories (B&F) projects in India.Manish Mohnot, MD & CEO of KPIL, said, “We are delighted with the strong ordering momentum in our T&D and B&F businesses. The orders include ..

Infrastructure Energy

12 Sep 2025

ACME Solar Secures Rs 38.92 Billion Financing for Barmer Project

ACME Solar Holdings rose 2.05 per cent to Rs 308.50 after its wholly owned subsidiary, ACME Venus Urja, secured long-term project financing of Rs 38.92 billion from the State Bank of India (SBI).The funds will be utilised for the development and construction of a 400 MW Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) project in Barmer, Rajasthan. The loan repayment is structured over 19 years.The Barmer-based FDRE project is contracted with NHPC at a tariff of Rs 4.64 per unit. It will integrate solar power generation with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to ensure higher reliability and d..