Palghar’s Deharji dam starts storage of water, achieves first live impoundment

“The project will not only meet the rising water demands of Vasai-Virar and Palghar, but also stand as a benchmark for sustainable and scalable water infrastructure development across the state,” he added.

The dam is being built by the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) with funding support from MMRDA on the Deharji River near Suksale village in Palghar district.

As of May 2025, approximately 80 per cent of the total construction was complete. The excavation for the dam began in May 2022, and it was concretised in November 2022. The dam has a spillway with four radial gates, and the available storage upon completion will be 93.22 million cubic metres (Mcum).

Out of the total estimated cost of Rs 2,599.15 crore, MMRDA has invested Rs 1,689.42 crore so far. This figure also encompasses Rs 364.82 crore for land acquisition and rehabilitation.

According to MMRDA, private land involving a total area of 238 hectares is being acquired, and 269 families residing in Khuled, Sakhre, and Jambe villages are being rehabilitated under the jurisdiction of the Palghar District Collectorate. Currently, the stage 2 forest clearance for 445.29 hectares has been issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

After being fully commissioned, the dam will provide 190 million litres per day (MLD) to Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, 50 MLD to City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) for the Palghar area, and 15 MLD to villages along the alignment.

MMRDA is also drafting a detailed project report (DPR) for a regional bulk drinking water supply scheme on the basis of the Deharji reservoir. The construction of the dam is estimated to be complete by the end of 2027.