Banganga beautification project set to take off

Located at Walkeshwar in Malabar Hill, the structure’s origin dates back to the 12th century. The tank, known to store fresh water though it is in close proximity to the Arabian Sea, is protected as a heritage site by the state archaeological department. Its steps are built with black basalt stones while the ‘Deepastambhs’ in the periphery are constructed with lime plaster and bricks.

Last November, a government resolution had declared Banganga as a tourism spot. At present, people pray at Banganga on the last day of Pitru-Paksha.

However, the tank is currently in a dilapidated state with hutments encroaching its premises. The proposal of restoring the tank has been floated by Tourism Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, also the Malabar Hill MLA.

When contacted, Lodha said, “The primary objective is to restore the structure in its original form to reflect its heritage. This tank has a major historical significance as oral history links it to the Ramayana. This is an important monument and has a potential to become a major tourist attraction.”

Civic officials said the tenders for the project, bifurcated into phases, will be floated in the next one month. It is estimated to cost Rs 12 crore.

In the first phase, the stone steps will be repaired a 18-m-wide circular road will come up adjoining the tank, which will be named ‘Bhakti Marg’. Civic officials said the lake area will be illuminated and light and sound shows will be arranged.

In Phase 2, murals will be created and all the stone pathways leading to the lake will be reconstructed. The Ram Kund, another natural tank, is located within 200 m from Banganga. The BMC will set up kiosks to make people aware of its history. It also proposes creating an amphitheater for visitors.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sharad Ughade said, “We are targeting a year-end deadline to complete the two phases. This project has become an utmost priority for us and BMC is working jointly with the GSB trust and the state government to meet the deadline.”

Civic officials said there are 11 encroachments in the tank’s periphery and 100 structures would be relocated for this project. “Aerators will be set up inside the lake and we will create a separate chamber for religious rituals so that the oil spills don’t affect the aquatic life inside the tank,” said an official.

Rutvik Aurangabadkar, CEO (Projects) of GSB Trust, said, “There are 13 Deepstambhas in the tank vicinity and we have already restored one of them. In the long-term, we want to make Banganga a Tirthak-Kshetra corridor and are also exploring the possibility of setting up a jetty so that the main entry to the tank would be from the sea-side.”