Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha has written to Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde urging him to take immediate action to resolve the reservoir issue. (Image: AMI/PTI/File)
Last year, the BMC announced plans to reconstruct the reservoir due to its fragile structure. But, residents opposed it as over 180 trees needed to be axed. Hence, repairing it was suggested by an expert committee
The Malabar Hill reservoir reconstruction has been raised by Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who has written to chief minister Eknath Shinde urging him to take immediate action to resolve the issue.
Lodha, who is the Malabar Hill MLA, also wrote to BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal highlighting residents’ concerns and asking him to schedule a meeting to prevent any further delay. Last year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner (BMC) announced plans to reconstruct the century-old reservoir due to its fragile structure. But, the residents opposed the reconstruction as more than 180 trees needed to be axed. Hence, repairing it was suggested as a viable alternative.
Lodha had to intervene to facilitate dialogue between the civic authorities and residents for mutual solution. Following this, an expert committee was formed comprising IIT experts, BMC engineers and residents with technical expertise in the field. The panel conducted two inspections of the reservoir and submitted its findings to the BMC. According to the findings, phased repairs of the tank is unviable and, hence, it has to be emptied before work starts.
Lodha, in his letter, expressed displeasure over the delay in taking action suggested by the expert committee. “Despite the action suggested, the BMC has not taken any decision due to which Malabar Hill residents are being inconvenienced. Hence, I appeal to you to instruct the relevant authorities to resolve this issue and give relief to citizens,” he wrote to Shinde.
