Mumbai: After numerous attempts spanning over a year and a half, the BMC’s ambitious desalination initiative is finally gaining momentum. The proposed plant at Manori has attracted an impressive 21 bids.
Simultaneously, a second planned facility at Versova has drawn attention from seven major firms. Each of these plants is expected to treat 200 million litres (ML) of seawater per day.
Manori Project Sees Strong Global Interest
The BMC floated a tender on December 4, 2023, to set up a desalination plant on a 12-hectare plot in Manori village, located in Mumbai’s western suburbs. After four previous attempts, the project has finally garnered interest with 21 companies, including prominent firms from the Middle East and Spain, coming forward. However, the deadline for submitting bids for the Rs 3,200 crore project has been extended to August 19.
Versova Facility Follows DBFOT Model
On July 26, the BMC invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for its second desalination plant, to be developed on a seven-acre site with three lagoons in Versova. The project will follow a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model, with EOIs due by September 6.
Under this model, the private firm will bear the capital costs, while the BMC will pay per kilolitre for the treated water, eliminating the need for upfront civic expenditure.
Top Infrastructure Players Show Interest
According to a senior civic official, several major players including Larsen & Toubro, the Adani Group, VA Tech Wabag, IDE Technologies, Suez, and Megha Engineering have expressed keen interest in the project. Recently, representatives from these companies, along with civic officials, conducted a site visit to Versova to assess the proposed location.
"The EOIs are expected to include techno-economic feasibility reports outlining proposed technologies, financing models, and tentative project costs. A BMC-appointed consultant will evaluate these submissions to recommend the most suitable solution. Based on this, the civic body will issue a tender, initiating the standard bidding process," he added.
Addressing Mumbai’s Water Demand Gap
Mumbai currently receives 3,950 ML of water daily, which falls short of the 4,463 ML demand. With demand expected to rise to 6,900 ML per day by 2041, the BMC is exploring alternative water sources.
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In February 2021, it appointed an Israeli firm to draft a desalination plant proposal, followed by a design review in January 2022. After securing clearances from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the BMC floated a tender for its first such plant at Manori.
