29 April -05 May 2013 - orsam

Civic body to study impact of dam projects on ecosystem
Inching towards the completion of the Gargai and Pinjal dams to boost the city‘s water supply, the
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to conduct a bio-diversity study of the projects.
The spots where the dams are to be built and their submergence areas fall in the extended limits of
the Tansa wildlife sanctuary. With the study, the civic body will be able to gauge the possible impact
of the projects on the ecosystem. The Bombay Natural History Society will conduct the study at both
the sites at a cost of Rs85.79 lakh.
―Considering that the BNHS is a member of the National Board of Wildlife, we have appointed them
for the study. As the BNHS is also one of the oldest organisations with an expertise in the field of
nature conservation, we decided against inviting tenders from other firms,‖ said a senior official from
the civic body on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The construction work on both the dams is expected to start by 2015.
The Central Water Commission has approved the water stock availability reports for the projects.
The National Board of Wildlife, in March, gave clearance for the geo-technical survey to be
conducted at the Gargai dam site.
The BMC had, in March, obtained the final nod from the state government to carry out work on the
Pinjal dam.
The feasibility study reports and environment impact assessment studies for both the projects are in
progress, after which the final clearance from the union ministry of environment and forests will be
sought.
The Pinjal dam will be built as part of the Damanganga-Pinjal river link project and would provide
2,400 million litres of water daily. Of this, the dam to be constructed by the BMC would yield 865
million litres of water daily. The Gargai dam project would bring 450 million litres of water to the
city daily.
―Civic body to study impact of dam projects on ecosystem‖, 01/05/2013, online at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Indianews/Mumbai/Civic-body-to-study-impact-of-dam-projects-on-ecosystem/Article1-1052985.aspx
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