Space-crunched city explores reclamation options

Phase I,which is underway,also involves comparing topographic sheets and satellite images. The study so far shows that the first documented reclamation was in 1700. It saw the creation of Umarkhadi,until then a creek that separated the island of Bombay (one of the seven islands that form present day Mumbai) from Mazgaon. Next was the massive engineering project of Hornby Vellard that linked all seven islands by reclaiming 400 acres from the sea. This was followed by a series of reclamation by both government and private agencies,the most well-known being the three-phase Backbay reclamation that began in 1860 and spilled over to the next century leading to the creation of Marine Drive,Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade. In a city where land is precious,reclamation has been done not merely out of sea but in marshy land (Dharavi),garbage dumping grounds on marshy land (Mahim Nature Park,Gorai) and on mangroves and mudflats (BKC).

MTSU director B C Khatua said the study will focus on regenerating the coast and boosting the livelihood of fishermen. “The MTSU has been given the task of carrying out the study following a presentation before CM Prithviraj Chavan by Holland-based expert Ronald Waterman in September,” he said. Waterman had suggested reclamation near the Gateway of India,Marine Drive,Malabar Hill,Mahim and the port areas. A similar model was also suggested by Surbana,a Singapore-based consultant appointed by the MMRDA to come up with a concept plan for Mumbai 2052. The plan talked about the possibility of creating seven islands in the sea between Mumbai,Alibaug and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) post-1930. These islands would cumulatively have an area of 54 sq km,more than a 10th the size of present day Mumbai. The reclaimed island,as per the plan,would be used as commercial centres,extension to the JNPT and creation of new ports and airport in Alibaug. These are to be connected to the mainland by mass transit systems. “We will also draw examples from other countries that have done extensive reclamation,” said Mahajan.