The proposed BMC plan to reconstruct the Malabar Hill water reservoir (MHR) has been in the news since the past four months. It all began in September 2023 when notices by the BMC, were pasted on 389 trees in and around the Hanging Garden and Shantivan. These notices announced the axing of the marked trees for the reservoir project, and invited objections to the proposal. They mentioned, 389 trees would be affected — 189 would be cut and 200 would be transplanted.
At the hearing held at the Tree Authority’s office, citizens objected to this proposal and sent a letter dated, 25 September, asking for details of the project. Local MLA Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha initiated a public meeting on 26 September 2023, where the BMC officials presented a slide show of the proposed project. They also gave a presentation on the structural audit report of 2017, which had recommended the reconstruction of the reservoir and their suggestion to construct an alternative facility to maintain uninterrupted water supply during the reconstruction. At the meeting, citizens were asked to suggest alternate locations for building of a water reservoir thereby saving the 389 trees.
Residents sent a follow-up letter on 9 October 2023 asking the BMC to re-audit the reservoir by competent structural auditors, having experience in repairing and preserving such structures.
In an open letter dated 23 October 2023, three eminent civil engineers — Shirish B Patel, Alpa Sheth and Dr Vasudev V Nori wrote to the Municipal Commissioner, Iqbal Chahal, requesting him to stop this project.
MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha held a public meeting on 31 October 2023 in the presence of the Municipal Commissioner and BMC officials, where it was decided to constitute a committee of technical experts to review the project.
The appointed committee included four experts from IIT-Bombay — professors Ashok Goyal, R.S. Jangid, Jothi Prakash and Dasaka Murthy, architect and local group representative, Rahul Kadri, two civil engineers and local representatives, Dr Vasudev Nori and Alpa Sheth, and deputy municipal commissioner (special engineering), C.H. Kandalkar. Suggestions were also invited from the public by email.
Due to the BMC having caused a delay in getting the committee to work on the assignment, Shri Lodha wrote to the Municipal Commissioner to extend the deadline by 45 days.
The expert committee held its first inspection of the reservoir on 7 December 2023 when two tanks out of the total 5, namely 2A and 2B were inspected. The second inspection was held on 18 December of tanks 1A, 1B and IC. Both the site inspections were carried out by the expert committee to check its structural stability and the extent of its dilapidated condition.
While some members of the expert committee feel that the reservoir can be repaired, it remains to be seen what the final report by the entire committee will say — which will be submitted in January 2024.
Through a public notice, the BMC had asked for suggestions via email from citizens and experts on the Methodology to be adopted for Reconstruction of Malabar Hill Reservoir (MHR). About 149 residents sent their objections in a letter signed by them. The objection letter was addressed to the Chief Engineer, Water Supply Projects.
The letter begins with: “Your public notice dated 01.12.2023 completely omits any reference to repairs. And speaks only about reconstruction. Which we strongly object to.”
The summary of the objections is as follows:
– Plans to reconstruct MHR must be scrapped. MHR must be repaired using modern technology.
– MHR can be repaired compartment wise, by isolating one compartment at a time. If compartment isolation is not possible, modern technology for in-water and underwater repairs must be used.
– Quoting from the letter “It is relevant to note that the incoming water supply to the MHR is not being enhanced. Incoming water flow continues at 80 ML per shift, with 3 water discharge shifts per day giving it a 240 ML daily outflow capacity. i.e. at present MHR is supplying 240 ML of water per day, by storing 80 ML at a time. MHR has a holding capacity of 148 ML which is rarely ever used in day to day operations, but can be used at any time in future. i.e. existing holding capacity can be enhanced by 85% without need for any additional storage tanks”.
– Upon isolation of one compartment, the remaining compartments must be used for 80 ML per shift storage, thus eliminating the need for building any temporary water storage facility.
– If additional storage facility is still needed, temporarily or permanently, the MHR-II plot next to the Post Office can be used.
– The Green cover of MHR plot and adjoining plots must not be touched in any way for any reservoir work.
– All work on MHR must be done only after obtaining Heritage, CRZ & DCPR approval, as per Law. No unauthorised work must be done by-passing the laid down legal procedures;
– Besides structural engineers, BMC must also involve Hydraulic Engineers (MEP Consultants), who can plan a more modern distribution and storage network for the decades to come.
The above objections have been sent by residents. We now await the report of the expert committee.
(Editorial Committee of The Voice of Malabar Hills)
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