BMC plans to complete Mumbai’s Manori desalination project within four years

Representational image. File pic

Mumbai is set to receive an additional 200 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water over the next four years, with the BMC planning to complete its desalination plant project at Manori within this period, the Maharashtra government informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday.

During the question hour session in the state legislative assembly, Abu Azmi asked how many years it would take to complete the desalination project and whether the cost of water provided to citizens would be increased post-completion of the project.

In fact, BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar claimed that the government should give a second thought, as this would be a big liability.

Replying to the queries, Minister Uday Samant said, "All the necessary permissions have been obtained. BMC aims to complete the 200 MLD desalination plant at Manori in the next 4 years."

According to information shared by the minister, the daily water demand of Mumbai is 4665 MLD, while the actual supply is 4100 MLD. "The gap needs to be bridged, and from this project 200 MLD will be added," Samant said and claimed that at present Rs 35 is charged for 1000 litres, the desalination project would increase the per-litre cost by 17 paise.