Over a decade since the project was first mooted, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken the first step towards the construction of the Gargai dam, which will increase Mumbai’s annual water supply by 440 million litres (ML). On Tuesday, the civic body floated tenders for the construction of the Gargai dam at a cost of Rs 3000 crore. This cost covers the construction of the dam, along with the cost for environmental clearances required for the project.

In 2018-19, the BMC’s general body gave in-principle approval for the construction of the dam, with a provision to spend up to R3105 crore for the project. This cost covered the aspect of rehabilitation of project-affected persons from the area where the dam will be constructed and the cost of acquisition of land for their rehabilitation.