Mumbai: Almost two years after an IIT-Roorkee team inspected Malabar Hill reservoir and concluded that the existing structure could be repaired rather than demolished and reconstructed, BMC now plans to appoint the institute to review its plans for a new alternative reservoir at the adjoining site.
The proposal, listed before the civic Standing Committee on Sept 23, seeks approval to pay IIT-Roorkee Rs 22 lakh, excluding GST, to independently review the structural designs, plans and related proposals prepared by BMC’s project consultant, Pednekar Associates.
IIT-Roorkee team, during its earlier assessment, had recommended that the existing reservoir could be repaired and did not require demolition and reconstruction. At the same time, it had suggested construction of an alternative tank, adding that repairs to the existing reservoir could not be undertaken while water supply operations were in progress.
BMC’s earlier proposal to demolish and reconstruct Malabar Hill reservoir had faced opposition from local residents and environmentalists, particularly over concerns about the number of trees that could be affected by the project.
In an effort to minimise the impact on trees, the civic body subsequently examined alternative designs with IIT-Roorkee and proposed a three-tier reservoir with a storage capacity of 52 million litres on the western side of the existing reservoir. The proposed site is occupied by staff quarters and a pumping station. The plan also includes construction of a new valve gallery.
The structural designs, plans and related procedures for the alternative scheme have been prepared by Pednekar Associates. BMC now wants IIT-Roorkee to review these proposals, citing the technical complexity of the work.
The civic administration has sought permission under Section 72(3) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, to waive the requirement of inviting tenders through public advertisement for the review work. The administration has argued that IIT-Roorkee is a technically competent, govt-recognised institution and that inviting tenders through public advertisement would serve no useful purpose in this case.
Malabar Hill Reservoir, referred to as MHR by BMC officials, was constructed in 1887 and currently supplies water to various parts of the city through 19 distribution systems. The reservoir was originally built in three compartments—1A, 1B and 2A. It was subsequently expanded in 1907 with two additional compartments, 1C and 2B, and was converted into a storage reservoir in 1916.
