MUMBAI: A team from IIT Roorkee is soon expected to visit the Malabar Hill reservoir, which the BMC had proposed to demolish and reconstruct.
BMC officials said that conflicting reports from the review committee set up in Nov 2023 was the reason behind seeking a third-party opinion to determine the necessity of the reservoir’s overhaul. Last week, a BMC team visited IIT Roorkee with documents and reports outlining the proposed project.A senior BMC official said, “Once the IIT Roorkee team visits the reservoir and files its report, we will decide the further course of action.”
However, local residents have dismissed these BMC actions as mere delay tactics. Dr Nilesh Baxi, who has been at the forefront of the issue in the wake of the large number of trees which would need to be axed for the reconstruction of the reservoir, said, “There’s no room for contradictory reports.”
Dr Baxi also suggested that instead of purely academic institutions, the civic body should have sought opinion from institutes such as L&T or those with similar interests in engineering, construction, and manufacturing.
Zoru Bhathena, another activist, said that they are ready to take the legal route, but are awaiting a final decision on the issue.
The Rs 698-crore plan to rebuild the reservoir was finalised by the administration after a structural audit exposed its weaknesses.
BMC officials said that conflicting reports from the review committee set up in Nov 2023 was the reason behind seeking a third-party opinion to determine the necessity of the reservoir’s overhaul. Last week, a BMC team visited IIT Roorkee with documents and reports outlining the proposed project.A senior BMC official said, “Once the IIT Roorkee team visits the reservoir and files its report, we will decide the further course of action.”
However, local residents have dismissed these BMC actions as mere delay tactics. Dr Nilesh Baxi, who has been at the forefront of the issue in the wake of the large number of trees which would need to be axed for the reconstruction of the reservoir, said, “There’s no room for contradictory reports.”
Dr Baxi also suggested that instead of purely academic institutions, the civic body should have sought opinion from institutes such as L&T or those with similar interests in engineering, construction, and manufacturing.
Zoru Bhathena, another activist, said that they are ready to take the legal route, but are awaiting a final decision on the issue.
The Rs 698-crore plan to rebuild the reservoir was finalised by the administration after a structural audit exposed its weaknesses.