BMC Seeks State Intervention for Worli Sewage Plant Land Revision
In a significant development concerning Mumbai's infrastructure planning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formally requested the Maharashtra state government to revise land allocation for the expansion of the Worli Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This move comes over two months after the BMC initially issued a stop-work notice to a transit camp constructed on civic land reserved for the crucial sewage facility.
Land Requirement Details and Current Shortfall
The municipal commissioner has written to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing Department, Government of Maharashtra, seeking reservation and handover of 27,967 square meters of land for public infrastructure tied to the STP expansion. This request directly challenges a July 12, 2024 state government order that had reduced the STP reservation area to just 17,756.40 square meters.
The civic body asserts that this reduced allocation is fundamentally inadequate for meeting the requirements of multiple municipal departments and for properly executing the expanded sewage treatment project. The land in question falls within a proposed special township project involving slum rehabilitation schemes at Jijamata Nagar, Shree Vivekanand Nagar, Veer Jijamata Nagar, and Mata Ramabai Nagar in the Lower Parel division.
Multiple Civic Needs Driving Land Requirement
According to BMC officials, the land serves multiple critical purposes beyond basic sewage treatment. The municipal corporation emphasizes that the expanded area is essential for safeguarding key underground utilities and enabling proper maintenance access. Specific departmental requirements include:
- The Storm Water Drains department needs land along the Nehru Science Centre nullah for reconstruction and future desilting work
- The Bridges department requires a six-meter-wide strip for inspection and maintenance of an under-construction bridge over the nullah
- Approximately 6,060 square meters is specifically needed for utility protection and maintenance purposes
Major Infrastructure Project at Stake
The most substantial portion of the requested land—over 21,900 square meters—has been earmarked for the BMC's Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP). Under this initiative, the Worli facility is being upgraded as part of a comprehensive 500 MLD (million liters per day) wastewater treatment project.
Officials explained that additional land is necessary to install advanced treatment systems capable of converting treated water to potable standards. This expansion would also accommodate essential storage facilities, distribution infrastructure, and sludge-handling systems that are integral to modern sewage treatment operations.
Legal Proceedings and Project Implications
The BMC has characterized the STP expansion as a "vital public purpose project" and has urged the state to amend its earlier order issued under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 to reflect the revised land requirement.
If approved, this change could significantly alter the layout of the proposed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) township, with a larger portion of land earmarked for civic infrastructure rather than rehabilitation housing. The matter has already reached the Bombay High Court, which recently sought the state government's position on the BMC's request for approximately 27,000 square meters instead of the previously allocated 17,756 square meters.
The court is hearing a petition by Worli Urban Development Project LLP (formerly Lokhandwala DB Realty Pvt Ltd) against demolition of transit buildings on the 17,756 square meter area. Following a February 9 order to stop further construction, the developer undertook to demolish the transit buildings within 90 days. Midway through demolition of the second building, the BMC informed the High Court of its need for the entire 27,698 square meter land parcel.
This ongoing dispute highlights the complex balancing act between urban development, infrastructure needs, and rehabilitation projects in India's financial capital. The outcome will have significant implications for Mumbai's sewage treatment capacity and urban planning priorities in the coming years.
