Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 4: Mumbai's proposed desalination plant has come under increasing opposition from environmental groups and coastal fishing communities over concerns about the proposed felling of 971 trees and the project's possible impact on marine biodiversity and traditional fishing livelihoods.
The Watchdog Foundation, represented by Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, Nicholas Almeida and Advocate Vivian D'Souza, has submitted an objection to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Tree Authority, urging it to reject or defer permission for tree felling until all statutory, planning and environmental requirements are fulfilled.
In its representation, the Foundation acknowledged the importance of augmenting Mumbai's water supply but stressed that it should not come at the expense of the city's green cover.
It questioned whether the project had been properly incorporated into Mumbai's Development Plan 2034 and whether the necessary land-use and planning approvals had been obtained before seeking permission to remove the trees.
The Foundation also sought clarification on whether alternative sites and designs had been considered to reduce the loss of trees. It warned that removing 971 trees could have a significant ecological impact on the city's already shrinking green spaces.
Seeking transparency, the Foundation demanded the publication of a complete inventory of the trees proposed to be felled, including their species, age, location and condition, along with details of the tree-felling plan, environmental assessments and compensatory plantation.
It also called for an independent assessment of the trees and an opportunity for affected residents and concerned citizens to present their objections. The Foundation maintained that planting saplings could not adequately compensate for the loss of mature trees.
Meanwhile, fishing communities along Mumbai's western coastline, particularly in Manori, Gorai, Uttan and Madh, have raised concerns over the potential impact of the project on marine ecosystems and their livelihoods.
The proposed plant will draw large quantities of seawater and discharge concentrated brine back into the Arabian Sea. Fisherfolk fear that changes in seawater salinity could affect fish populations, breeding grounds and the marine food chain. They have also expressed concern that fish eggs and smaller marine organisms could be drawn into the plant's seawater intake system.
Opposition intensified in March 2026, when fishermen from Gorai and Manori protested against preliminary drilling and survey activities, alleging that vibrations from the work were disturbing fishing grounds and driving fish away.
On October 19, more than 800 fishermen and villagers staged a protest outside the Mumbai suburban district collector's office in Bandra, demanding the cancellation of the project and an immediate halt to construction.
A delegation led by Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap met Collector Saurabh Katiyar and sought a review of the approvals granted, a formal hearing on their objections and a stay on construction. The protesters also questioned the absence of a No Objection Certificate from the fisheries department.
The fishing communities have urged the civic authorities to first address water losses caused by leakages and improve the existing distribution network rather than pursue an expensive project that could adversely affect the coastal environment.
The controversy surrounding the desalination plant comes amid wider concerns over tree felling for infrastructure projects in Mumbai.
The BMC has issued a public notice under the Tree Act regarding a proposal to cut or transplant 1,039 trees for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project. The work covers the stretch from the Western Express Highway in Goregaon to the Airoli toll plaza in Mulund, along with improvements to the Eastern Express Highway-Goregaon-Mulund Link Road junction in S and T wards, covering Bhandup and Mulund.