The state government would bring out a technical project report on converting saline sea water into soft drinkable water for Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today informed the Legislative Council.
“The Government shall hold a meeting to deliberate on the same soon,” he said.
Fadnavis was replying to a question raised on a starred question moved by Dr. Apoorva Hirey (Independent) and others during the Question Hour.
Earlier speaking on the same topic, Minister for Water Resources Girish Mahajan ruled out the possibility of diverting surplus waters from Nar-Par, Ambika and Auranga river basins to Godavari and Tapi river basins so that water could be diverted to drought-hit regions of north Maharashtra and Marathwada.
He, however, stated that the government could consider allocating 10 TMC of water from Upper Vaitarna for Marathwada region.
Mahajan informed the house on government’s proposal to bring 31 TMC of water from the Nar-Par, Ambika and Auranga river basins to Mumbai.
Ruling out the diversion of waters from the basin to North Maharashtra and Marathwada, he said that it is difficult to lift waters from the basin to a height of 600 meters and put in Godavari and Tapi river basins.
Making an intervention, Fadnavis said at present water is supplied to Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) from MIDC dams.
Stressing upon the rapid urbanisation in the MMR and demand for water, he said that often shortage of water forces the government to close industries.
“The issue requires multi-pronged agenda to solve the drinking water problem. Gravitational flow of the Nar-Par basin could be used to divert water to Mumbai,” he said.
The Chief Minister, however, added that the cost of converting sea water into drinkable water is costly.
