Mumbai's Gargai Dam construction deferred; work now likely to begin in January 2027

The proposed dam site in Palghar district, 110 km away from Mumbai. File pic/Ranjeet Jadhav

The expected start of construction for Gargai dam in October 2026 has been deferred. The new tentative start is January 2027. After the project's approval earlier this year, civic officials had said in June that construction was expected to begin in October. Officials have now said that the construction may take up to three more months to start. The proposal was passed by BMC's Standing Committee on April 1, and subsequently passed by the General Body in the
same month.

The proposed site for Gargai dam in Palghar district. File pic/Ranjeet Jadhav

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Cause of delay

The delay is due to two permissions the project needs from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), along with an approval from the National Board for Wildlife. The permissions remain pending as 3,10,140 trees are due to be submerged because of the project. Transplantation of these trees and rehabilitation of residents affected is part of the project.

Permissions pending

National Board for Wildlife: It meets once every quarter; the permission has been tabled and will be approved in the next meeting, an official said
MoEFCC: Permission is currently moving through the state level, an official said

Current update

Civic officials say the contractor approved by the BMC should get these permissions at the latest by January, after which rehabilitation of the landowners and transplantation of the trees should begin. "The alternative land for the same is not an issue anymore. Meanwhile, soil testing, designing, and planning of the project are ongoing," said an official. According to the official, since most of this financial year was expected to pass in securing permissions, only around Rs 400 crore was sought from the budget provision for the project. "As the work begins, we will be drawing much more heavily from the sanctioned budget," said the official.

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OfficialSpeak

A senior civic official
‘The onset of construction won't be in October as expected, due to two permissions that are awaited. We are pressing on it, and work should begin before January'

Project at a glance

Location: Wada Tehsil in Palghar District, 110 km from Mumbai
Water supply to Mumbai: 440 million litres per day
Time for completion: 4 years
Consultation cost: Rs 25 crore for eight consultants, including a cultural expert for rehabilitation, an environmental conservationist, a forest conservationist, and an agriculture supervisor
Cost of construction: Rs 3100 crore (Total Rs 5000 crore approved for the project including construction and allied works)

Deadlines…
2028: Construction of Gargai dam to be completed, along with the tunnel connecting to Modak Sagar reservoir
2030: Allied construction work to be completed