BMC to Audit Five Dams and Pise Weir in Mumbai

Mumbai: BMC to Conduct Safety Inspections of Five Dams and Pise Weir by December 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a ₹45.90 lakh safety assessment of five dams and Pise weir to comply with statutory requirements. A government-appointed expert committee will evaluate their structural condition, identify potential risks and suggest necessary safety measures.

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to carry out detailed safety inspections of key water-storage structures supplying Mumbai, with the assessments scheduled to meet a December 2026 deadline set under dam safety regulations.

The proposed inspections aim to evaluate the condition of the structures, identify possible weaknesses and recommend measures to address any safety concerns. The assessment is also intended to reduce risks to communities living downstream and help protect the city's water supply infrastructure.

The inspections follow directions from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and repeated follow-ups by the State Dam Safety Organisation in Nashik. In response, the civic body has proposed engaging a government-constituted expert committee to examine the structures and prepare comprehensive safety reports.

The estimated cost of the exercise is ₹45.90 lakh. The amount will cover inspection work, professional fees for experts, travel, accommodation and meals. The BMC has proposed allocating the required funds from its revenue budget for the financial year 2026–27.

Mumbai Depends on Seven Lakes for Its Water Supply

Mumbai receives its drinking water from seven lakes: Tulsi, Vihar, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa. While Tulsi and Vihar are situated within Mumbai, the remaining reservoirs are located approximately 100–175 kilometres from the city, across parts of the Palghar, Thane and Nashik districts.

The water supplied from these sources travels through an extensive network of around 650 kilometres of transmission mains and nearly 5,500 kilometres of distribution pipelines. Together, the system delivers approximately 4,100 million litres of water per day (MLD) to Mumbai.

Five Dams and Pise Weir to Undergo Assessment

The proposed safety exercise will cover five dams managed by the BMC—Tulsi, Vihar (Vehar), Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar and Tansa—along with Pise weir.

The expert committee will examine the structures and document any issues requiring attention before recommending appropriate remedial action. The inspections form part of the civic body's efforts to fulfil dam safety obligations and maintain the reliability of infrastructure critical to Mumbai's water supply.