Mumbai is preparing to fast-track several large water infrastructure projects as pressure mounts on the city’s ageing supply network, the State Legislature was informed on Wednesday. The initiatives, being led by the municipal administration and supported by the State’s urban development department, aim to close the widening gap between available water and the rapidly escalating demand of the metropolis.
Officials confirmed that Mumbai currently receives around 3,800 million litres per day (MLD), far short of the 4,500-4,800 MLD the city is estimated to require. The shortfall has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by high-rise residential development, infrastructure expansion, and the overall densification of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Urban planners note that rising temperatures and climate-related stress on reservoirs have made the system even more vulnerable. According to a senior government representative, three major dam-linked project Gargai, Pinjal, and the Daman Ganga-Pinjal river interlinking scheme have been prioritised for accelerated completion. The official said primary engineering work for the Gargai dam has nearly concluded, with tender documentation currently in preparation. The project is expected to provide a significant new storage buffer for the region. For the Pinjal dam, preliminary engineering and a detailed project report are advancing following environment-related clearances. Experts say this project is central to long-term water security, as it is designed to supplement Mumbai’s existing lakes, several of which are operating at reduced resilience due to recurring drought cycles.
The river-linking initiative between Daman Ganga and Pinjal is undergoing a final round of inter-state permissions and central government approvals. Officials described it as a critical connector that would channel new supply into the Pinjal system, helping diversify the city’s water sources beyond local catchments that are increasingly exposed to climate volatility. Beyond conventional reservoir expansion, the municipal corporation is pursuing a parallel track of non-traditional solutions. A desalination plant at Colaba, planned with an initial capacity of 200 MLD and expandable to 400 MLD, is among the most prominent efforts. A technical adviser associated with the project said desalination is gaining momentum globally, particularly in coastal megacities where equity in water access and climate uncertainty are both pressing concerns. Urban researchers argue that Mumbai must weigh these large investments alongside long-term sustainability measures such as watershed conservation, improved leak management, and equitable distribution in low-income neighbourhoods. They caution that infrastructure alone cannot resolve supply imbalances without parallel reforms in governance, pricing, and demand management.
City officials maintain that the current suite of projects represents a decisive move towards securing Mumbai’s water future. As population growth continues and climate patterns shift unpredictably, they say the immediate priority is to stabilise supply while building a foundation for a more adaptable and inclusive water system in the decades ahead.
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