16 October,2026 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
The Gorai jetty in Borivli West. File pic/Satej Shinde
The Manori desalination plant could benefit those opposing it the most," said Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar on Thursday while sharing the project's latest status.
The BMC has begun the project work as it received an advance possession of the upcoming plant site from the collector of Mumbai Suburban district. The âfinal handover and area correction process' is still ongoing, with the BMC coordinating with the revenue department and the collector.
During the briefing, Bangar said the project's water supply could serve the Gorai area where residents face a constant water shortage. "The current water supply pipeline to Gorai is very long, leading to dip in supply and pressure at the ends, many resorts etc also steal water before it reaches residents," explained elected Public Representative from Gorai, Shivanand Shetty.
Manori and Gorai residents - mainly farmers and fishermen - have expressed their opposition to the project and the collector transferring the land to the BMC, allegedly without consulting locals.
The briefing by the BMC comes three days before various fishermen community groups from Palghar to Mumbai are scheduled to protest against the project on Monday. Fishing community leaders told mid-day earlier in the week that as part of the protest, âManori-Gorai' will be âbandh' and around 3000 community members are expected to take part in a morcha at the Mumbai Suburban collector's Bandra office.
Key concerns of those who stand against the project include negative impact on marine life, fishery-related losses, and loss of âgrazing lands' for farmers.
Bangar claimed that the project abides by the most stringent international norms like the United States' Environmental Protection Agency standards and no such environmental issue would arise. "The same desalination plants have been adopted globally, including in Singapore and the UAE, and they continue functioning without any negative environmental impact," he said.
Responding to mid-day's query about whether the output of the concentrated salt brine 2.42km away from Mumbai's shallow coast was deep enough for appropriate and safe dilution, Bangar said, "We have done all the scientific calculations, including MIKE 21 mathematical modelling, and concluded that this is far enough and safe."
[popcorn number="3000" desc="No. of those expected to participate in morcha on Monday" class="Default"]
Gargai dam: May 2029design-build
Manori desalination plant (200 MLD capacity): December 2029
Manori desalination plant (Expanded to 400 MLD): Mid-2030 to December 2030.
Versova desalination plant: December 2030
Gargai dam: Rs 5000 crore including construction and allied works, operations and maintanence - Rs 34 per 1000 litres divided over project life of 20 years
Manori desalination plant: Rs 9591 crore, including design build, operations and maintenance, and power consumption - Rs 45 per 1000 litres divided over the project life of 20 years (Rs 45 at 400 MLD capacity, Rs 49 at the initial 200 MLD capacity)
Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) - pressure and membranes, no boiling
Capacity: 200 MLD expandable to 400 MLD
BMC says it has ensured that the project has no direct impact on sensitive marine ecosystems.
Pipe jacking (tunnelling) to avoid "disturbing seabed surface"
Slow velocity and multi-stage screening during intake to avoid loss to marine life.
Multiport diffusers: to dissipate concentrate plume rapidly
Near-ambient salinity: Salinity unchanged outside the "Zone of initial Dilution"
Treated water output: At par with the Bhandup water treatment plant
Bangar said that the city's current daily water supply is 4100 million litres per day (MLD), this should surge to 5140 MLD by December 2030. The 1040 MLD boost will be because of three upcoming projects - the Manori desalination plant (400 MLD), Gargai dam (440 MLD), and Versova desalination plant (200 MLD)
