BMC gets NBW nod for tree survey for Gargai dam project

The long-pending Gargai dam project finally inched ahead after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received nod from the National Board of Wildlife ( NBW) to conduct tree survey of the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary’s 750 hectares of land, the project’s proposed construction site.

A senior civic official from the water supply projects department, said, “We are conducting tree survey of the sanctuary, regarding how many trees would get submerged due to the Gargai project.”

Stuck for more then eight years, the Gargai project is expected to start from December, 2018 after seeking all approvals from various departments.

With the civic body stocking enough water to cater the city’s rising drinking water requirement, this project was announced by the BMC few years back.

Currently, city gets 3,780 million litres of water daily as against the demand for 4,300 million litres. The Gargai dam project will provide the city with additional 440 million litres daily.

For the work on the Gargai project to start, the authorities need to rehabilitate at least 200 families from Wada in Palghar district. The estimated cost of the project is Rs1,900 crore and set an ambitious target to complete in five years.

A civic official, said, “While the project cost is estimated to about Rs1,000 to Rs1,200 crore, the remaining will be net present value that will have to be submitted as a part of compensation for the wildlife sanctuary.”

Meanwhile, the civic body is also in the process of appointing a consultant to prepare a Detailed Project Report for the implementation of the project.

Earlier, the civic body has appointed Naik Environment Research Institute Limited (NERIL) to obtain permissions from the NBWL and the Ministry of Environment and Forests MoEF for the project, prepare a report of tree cutting and alternative plantation, and make estimates for the project.

Stuck for more then eight years, the Gargai project is expected to start from December, 2018, after seeking all approvals from various departments