The BMC General Body has approved the Gargai dam project, paving the way for construction to begin. Aimed at boosting Mumbai’s water supply, the Rs 3,100 crore project is expected to be completed by 2028, with allied works finishing by 2030, pending key environmental clearances
The proposed site of the Gargai dam project, in Palghar district. FILE PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
With a deadline to complete the Gargai dam project by 2028-end, and complete all allied works by 2030, construction can finally begin as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) General Body approved the proposal on Thursday. The body, comprising the newly appointed 227 corporators, discussed the proposal for 90 minutes before it was passed on to the Mahayuti alliance which has a majority in the house.
Map/Suhas Kale
The proposal was passed by BMC’s Standing Committee on April 1, 2026, after which it was presented to the General Body for approval. As part of the project, BMC will hire eight kinds of experts to make up for the lack of in-house expertise to facilitate the work, including a cultural expert for rehabilitation, an environmental conservationist, a forest conservationist, and an agriculture supervisor.
Cost to civic body
Cost of project: Rs 3100 crore
(Rs 5000 crore approved)
Cost for consultants: Rs 25 crore
Permissions awaited
Three more permissions for the project are pending — national wildlife board, state forest permissions, and central forest permissions. (Out of the 658 hectares required for compensatory afforestation, 380 hectares of land have been identified near Tadoba National Park, in Chandrapur and Washim districts.)
Project timeline
2028 Construction of Gargai dam will be completed, along with the tunnel connecting to Modak Sagar reservoir
2030 Allied construction work to be completed
About Gargai dam
Location: Wada Tehsil in Palghar District, 110 km from Mumbai
Water supply to Mumbai: 440 million litres per day (MLD)
Time for completion: 4 years
Mumbai’s water needs
Total water available: 14.47 lakh million litres
BMC supplies: 3950-4100 MLD to Mumbai
Projected requirement by 2031: 5325 MLD (29.87% more)
Projected requirement by 2041: 6424 MLD (56.68% more)
Other sources of water: Desalination plant provides 200 MLD, expandable to 400 MLD
110 km
Distance between Gargai dam location and Mumbai
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