Mumbai, May 21 (UNI) The green light for construction of two new dams aimed at alleviating water shortages in key urban centres including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Panvel, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath and Badlapur marks a significant step toward resolving the region’s chronic water scarcity.

This approval represents a crucial move toward resolving the persistent water supply challenges faced by these rapidly expanding cities.

The first project is the Poshir Dam on the Poshir river in Karjat taluka, with a total capacity of 12.344 TMC (thousand million cubic feet).

The Maharashtra Cabinet granted administrative approval of Rs 6,394.13 crore for this project. The dam will have a usable water capacity of 9.721 TMC, of which 7.933 TMC is allocated for drinking water and 1.859 TMC for industrial use.

Water from this dam will be supplied to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath and Badlapur.

The second project involves constructing a 6.61 TMC capacity dam on the Shilar river at Moje Kekave under the Moje Shilar project and Rs 4,869.72 crore has been approved for this project, which will supply drinking water to the municipal corporations of Panvel and Navi Mumbai.

In addition to these, the Cabinet also approved revised costs for the Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Upsa irrigation scheme and the Poshir and Shilar irrigation dam projects.

Some ministers expressed concerns over the rising costs of irrigation projects, especially those delayed for years.

The Water Resources Department plans to complete the Poshir Dam within seven years. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to aim for completion within four to five years, emphasising timely execution.

These projects are expected to significantly improve water availability in the rapidly growing Mumbai

Metropolitan Region and its surrounding areas, addressing both drinking water and industrial needs.

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