Archive · 24 Sep 2026
BMC Seeks IIT-Roorkee Review of Revised Malabar Hill Reservoir Plan
Mumbai’s civic body wants to build or repair a water reservoir at Malabar Hill.
It has asked IIT-Roorkee to check whether the new plans are safe and workable.
The institute will be paid ₹22 lakh for this review.
Earlier plans would have required cutting 389 trees.
The revised plan would cut 82 trees, saving 307 trees.
IIT-Roorkee found that the old reservoir could be repaired instead of demolished.
However, repairs cannot happen while the reservoir is being used to supply water.
The BMC is therefore also considering a new three-tier tank beside the existing one.
The BMC will ask IIT-Roorkee to review plans for a new Malabar Hill reservoir.
The review will cover structural designs and related documents prepared by Pednekar Associates.
IIT-Roorkee will receive ₹22 lakh for the independent technical review.
The revised approach reduces proposed tree felling from 389 trees to 82, saving 307.
The BMC is considering a three-tier, 52-million-litre reservoir beside the existing facility.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and IIT-Roorkee, with designs prepared by Pednekar Associates.
- What
- IIT-Roorkee will independently review plans for a proposed new reservoir adjoining the existing Malabar Hill reservoir.
- When
- The proposal was approved by the BMC Standing Committee on Wednesday, nearly two years after IIT-Roorkee assessed the existing reservoir.
- Where
- Malabar Hill in Mumbai, at a site west of the existing reservoir that contains staff quarters and a pumping station.
- Why
- The BMC cited the project’s technical complexity and wants to address the difficulty of repairing the existing reservoir while water-supply operations continue.
BMC and Project Supporters
Residents and Activists
Reservoir redevelopment
BMC and Project Supporters
The BMC is pursuing a revised reservoir plan and wants IIT-Roorkee to review its technical designs.
Residents and Activists
Local residents and activists opposed the earlier demolition-and-reconstruction proposal because of its impact on trees.
Repair versus replacement
BMC and Project Supporters
The BMC says the existing reservoir can be repaired, but repairs cannot be carried out while water-supply operations continue, making an alternative tank necessary to consider.
Residents and Activists
The earlier proposal to demolish and rebuild the existing reservoir faced opposition over concerns about tree loss.
Environmental impact
BMC and Project Supporters
The revised approach reduces proposed tree felling from 389 trees to 82, according to Additional Municipal Commissioner Vipin Sharma.
Residents and Activists
Residents and activists raised concerns about the number of trees that would be affected by the reservoir project.
- Review fee
- ₹22 lakh
- Trees originally proposed for felling
- 389
- Trees now proposed for felling
- 82
- Trees to be saved
- 307
- Proposed reservoir capacity
- 52 million litres
- Proposed design
- Three-tier reservoir
- Existing reservoir construction
- Constructed in 1887