Mumbai's Seawater Plant: Hope or Harm to Fish?

Mumbai is constructing its first desalination plant in Manori, a project two decades in the making, with the first phase set to operate by December 2029. This initiative aims to supply 200 million litres of desalinated seawater daily, bolstering the city's water security amidst drought concerns. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) states the plant will use advanced reverse osmosis technology to ensure safe drinking water.

Despite the BMC's assurances of environmental safeguards and comparisons to Singapore's successful model, the project has sparked significant opposition from local fishing villages. Residents fear the desalination process, particularly the discharge of concentrated brine and the intake of seawater, will disrupt marine ecosystems, affect fish breeding grounds, and ultimately decimate their livelihoods. They cite negative experiences from a similar plant in Chennai.

The Rs 4,077 crore project, spanning 29 hectares, will draw seawater through tunnels and release treated brine back into the sea. The BMC claims the intake velocity and mesh size will protect marine life, and the brine discharge will have minimal impact. However, the fishing community, representing over 20,000 families, remains skeptical and seeks further dialogue.