The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) expert appraisal committee for the proposed 400 MLD seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant at village Manori. This clearance removes a significant obstacle in the project's implementation.
Conditions Imposed
The clearance mandates several conditions. The project proponent must identify capable research institutes or universities at state and national levels to prepare a long-term research action plan. This plan will assess brine's impact on marine ecology, flora, and fauna, develop advanced desalination techniques, explore brine reuse, and design incentive structures for conserving natural resources and mitigating pollution in marine ecosystems. An initial allocation of Rs 10 crore is required for these research projects. Additionally, activities in Manori Creek, a key fishing area for local fishermen, are banned.
Environmental Considerations
The committee noted that this is the first large-scale desalination project in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Its success could provide an alternative drinking water source and lead to more such plants, potentially discharging huge brine volumes into the sea. Thus, improving brine quality and reuse is vital to minimize marine impact and establish desalination as environmentally sound, economically feasible, and sustainable. The proponent must also ensure tidal flow and nearby mangrove ecosystems are unaffected during operation.
Project Details
The intake and outfall pipelines will be installed using tunnelling methods to minimize seabed disturbance. Options to reduce energy usage and carbon footprint include increasing renewable energy use by at least 10% and installing energy recovery systems. BMC awarded the contract to GVPR Engineers in December. Phase 1 will establish a 200 MLD plant. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) forwarded its recommendation to the expert appraisal committee.
