Over the past six months, around 25,000 metric tonnes of aquatic plants have already been cleared using two machines. However, the rapid and unchecked growth of these plants — caused primarily by sewage mixing with lake water — continues to choke large areas of the lake surface
The civic body has noted that diverting sewage away from the lake is the only permanent solution to curb aquatic plant overgrowth.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed about 1,450 metric tonnes of aquatic plants, including water hyacinths, from Powai Lake in 10 days as a part of its ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalise the natural surroundings around the water body.
"The work of removing aquatic plants and floating vegetation from the lake has been going on at a rapid pace since May 23, 2025. The positive result of these efforts is that 1,450 metric tonnes of aquatic plants have been removed in a period of 10 days from May 23, 2025, to June 1, 2025. In particular, the municipal corporation has also taken precautions to protect and conserve natural elements while removing aquatic plants," a Mumbai civic body spokesperson said.
He added that several measures are being taken to tackle Powai Lake's pollution and restore its ecological health.
“In particular, the administration has directed the deployment of five machines and additional manpower to accelerate the removal process. Accordingly, these works are going on," the official added.
In the past six months, about 25,000 metric tonnes of aquatic plants have been cleared from Powai Lake using two machines. However, the rapid and unchecked growth of these plants — caused primarily by sewage mixing with lake water — continues to choke large areas of the lake surface.
Aquatic plants flourish in large quantities after the water gets mixed with sewage in Powai Lake. Due to the unnecessary growth of the aquatic plants, the lake surface is covered and the water quality and biodiversity are adversely affected. Not only this, the reflection of sunlight in the water also decreases, which stunts the growth of plants on which the fish feed, thereby creating a barrier in the food chain. It also degrades water quality and biodiversity.
Considering all these factors, among the various biodiversity conservation works initiated by BMC in and around Powai Lake, one of the important activities is the removal of aquatic plants from the water body and its disposal outside the Mumbai metropolitan area.
Diverting the sewage channels elsewhere is the only permanent solution to prevent the rapid growth of water plants. The municipal corporation has directed the authorities concerned to ensure that the speed of logging water should be increased further till the work of diverting the sewage channels is completed.
Accordingly, in order to make the waterlogging process more effective, work is being conducted at a faster pace with the help of five machines, including harvester machines, pontoon-mounted poklen and dumpers. Additional manpower has been deployed in two shifts for the work. Six machines will be deployed after the monsoon. Waterlogging is being disposed of at a landfill outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region under the guidance of experts from the Bombay Natural History Society to ensure that no harm is caused to the biodiversity while removing water logging from the lake.
BMC issues tenders for work
Two tenders have been floated by the chief engineer of the Sewage Project Department of the municipal corporation for the drainage of sewage from Powai Lake. This project includes two works: laying a sewage channel and setting up an 8 million litres (MLD)-capacity sewage treatment plant. Around 18 million litres of sewage flows into Powai Lake. Of this, 8 million litres is proposed to be discharged at the site of the currently closed Powai Udanchan Kendra.
Another 8 million litres will be diverted to the sewage treatment plant at Bhandup through the existing sewage channel on Adi Shankaracharya Marg, processed and then discharged back into the lake.
The remaining 2 million litres of sewage will be diverted to the Peru Bagh treatment plant and then diverted to the nine-million litre-capacity sewage treatment plant on the Mithi river through a sewage channel. This will help in diverting and preventing the entry of sewage into the Powai Lake. The tender process for this work is in the final stage. Meanwhile, the draft letter for the work of diverting the channels to divert sewage from entering the Powai Lake has been approved. The acceptance of this tender and issuance of work orders are expected to take place in the coming week.
About the lake
Powai Lake was created in 1891 and its total water area expands 223 hectares.
The catchment area of the lake, which has a circumference of about 6.6 kilometres, is spread over about 600 hectares. The water-holding capacity of the water body is about 5 thousand 455 million litres.
Besides drinking, the water in the lake is used for several other purposes.
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