Mumbai: In a significant step towards strengthening the city’s long-term water supply infrastructure, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for its proposed Manori desalination plant. The approval, granted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, clears a major regulatory hurdle for one of Mumbai’s most ambitious water augmentation projects.
The planned facility will be a 400 million litres per day (MLD) seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant, designed to convert seawater into drinking water. The project is expected to be implemented in phases, beginning with an initial capacity of 200 MLD, which will later be expanded depending on demand and operational performance.
The clearance was essential due to the project’s location in a coastal regulation zone near ecologically sensitive areas, including mangroves and fishing zones. While approving the project, authorities have imposed strict environmental conditions to ensure protection of marine ecosystems and coastal biodiversity.
As part of these conditions, the BMC has been instructed to conduct detailed studies on the impact of brine discharge on marine life, which is one of the key environmental concerns associated with desalination plants. The civic body will also need to collaborate with national and state-level research institutions to monitor and mitigate ecological risks during construction and operation.
In addition, the BMC has been directed to allocate at least ₹10 crore for environmental research, monitoring, and sustainable technology development, including studies on brine management and eco-friendly desalination practices. The project must also ensure that tidal flow patterns and mangrove ecosystems remain undisturbed, especially in and around the Manori Creek region.
Engineers involved in the project plan to use seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology, which is widely adopted globally for desalination. To minimise environmental impact, the plant will use undersea tunnels to draw seawater from offshore points, reducing direct interference with the shoreline and coastal habitat.
The project is also expected to incorporate energy-efficient systems and renewable energy integration, with a mandate to ensure at least 10% of the plant’s energy consumption comes from renewable sources. Additionally, the use of energy recovery systems is planned to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs over time.
Officials said the initial phase of 200 MLD capacity will serve as a pilot operational stage, after which the plant can be scaled up to its full capacity. The initiative is seen as a critical part of BMC’s strategy to diversify Mumbai’s water sources and reduce dependence on monsoon-fed reservoirs.
Mumbai currently relies heavily on rainfall-dependent lakes and reservoirs, making its water supply vulnerable to monsoon fluctuations. With rising population and increasing demand, the desalination plant is expected to provide a reliable, year-round alternative source of drinking water, significantly improving the city’s water security framework.
Before construction begins, further procedural steps including tendering and detailed engineering planning will need to be completed. However, the CRZ clearance marks a major breakthrough for the long-delayed project, bringing it closer to execution.
Once operational, the Manori desalination plant is expected to become a key infrastructure milestone for Mumbai, setting a precedent for future large-scale seawater desalination projects in India aimed at addressing urban water scarcity challenges.
