Civic body gets CRZ nod to build water pipeline across Malad creek

Through this method, the civic body aimed to increase the water pressure for a better supply to the city in coming months.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday got a Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for laying a 1200-mm water pipeline across the Maladcreek through micro-tunnelling method. The civic body had initiated the project last year to increase water pressure in the areas of Malad, Gorai and Marve jetty.

Micro-tunneling is a digging technique used to construct small tunnels. The micro-tunnelling method is expected to be done at a depth of ten meters. “We had commissioned the construction of the pipeline to undertake development work in Malad. There is a 30-40 meter patch below the ground-level where workers cannot reach, therefore we need to use the method of micro-tunneling,” said Ashok Kumar Tawadia, deputy hydraulic engineer (planning and control), BMC. The work will be carried out from the Evershine Nagar extension to Lagoon road across the Malad creek to avoid the cutting of mangroves that have been declared as reserved forest.

The mangroves, spread over 5,100 sq feet, will be saved by the use of this method, the official added. Though the project has been cleared by the MoEF, the civic body has to seek further permissions from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). “The MoEF clearance is subjected to certain norms to be maintained as per the MPCB rules. We will now forward the project to get further clearances before initiating the work,” Tawadia added.

With low water pressure being a constant issue in many areas in the city, the hydraulic department of the civic body has been taking constant steps. Earlier in September, the civic body had undertaken lake-tapping at the Modak Sagar lake in Thane. Through this method, the civic body aimed to increase the water intake level and also increase the water pressure for a better supply to the city in the coming months.

The BMC has also been shifting from surface water pipelines to tunnels to prevent leakages and water thefts.
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