State govt gives nod for Pinjal dam

The state, on Thursday, gave a formal nod for the construction of the Pinjal damn in Thane district. The BMC will now build the dam.

The state, on Thursday, gave a formal nod for the construction of the Pinjal damn in Thane district. The BMC will now build the dam. The dam, to be built on the Pinjal river by 2022, will yield around 1,475 million litres per day (MLD). Of this, 869 MLD will be supplied to the city while the rest will be used for irrigation around the dam. Currently, the city has a shortfall of around 900 MLD.

HT Image

While the Middle Vaitarna dam will be expected to supply 455 MLD and reduce the deficit, the Pinjal Dam is likely to add surplus water to Mumbai’s supply. The dam will be located in Khidse village in Jawhar Taluka, Thane district. Civic estimates peg the cost to around Rs. 8,000 crore.

“The project will submerge some part of the Tansa wildlife sanctuary. Hence, we’re in the process of getting permissions from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which will be a bigger challenge,” said an official from the water supply projects department.

Plans are also afoot to link the Pinjal river to the Damanganga river in Gujarat. The BMC has been pressing the Centre to acc-ord it the status of a national project so clearances are fast-tracked.