BMC Takes Action to Survey and Demarcate Powai Lake Boundary
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a significant step towards the conservation and management of Powai Lake by appointing a consultant to conduct a fresh survey and demarcate its boundary. This initiative is in response to a request from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), which shares a boundary with the lake.
A senior BMC official stated that the decision was taken following continuous engagement with a citizens' body comprising representatives from IIT-M, Larsen and Toubro, local residents of Hiranandani, and representatives of the hotels alongside the lake. This collaborative effort aims to ensure the lake's protection and sustainable use.
A similar survey was proposed in 2021 but was later withdrawn. In 2022, environmental activist Zoru Bhathena approached the Bombay High Court, seeking the demarcation of Powai Lake to protect the Natural Area Zone and the 100-metre no-construction buffer around it. Bhathena's petition cited BMC affidavits stating that several institutions and private entities, including IIT-B, the Renaissance Hotel, and other lessees, had taken control of large parts of the lakefront. He added that BMC staff were often denied access to the lake.
Bhathena’s petition referred to an affidavit filed by the BMC before the National Green Tribunal, which noted that Powai Lake lies in a dense urban setting. The affidavit stated, “Several structures have been built on the immediate periphery of the lake, including IIT hostel blocks, IIT accommodation buildings and canteen, the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre, the Lakeside Chalet Mumbai Marriott, and leased properties of the Hydraulic Engineering department.”
Powai Lake is an artificial reservoir created in 1891 by constructing a masonry dam between two hillocks across the Powai basin. Spread over 223 hectares, the lake has a submergence area of about 2.1 sq.km and a storage capacity of 5,455 million litres. It has been identified under the National Lake Conservation Policy as one of the country’s top ten lakes in need of rejuvenation. The lake supports a rich ecosystem and is home to several species of flora and fauna, including crocodiles.
In 2021, the BMC had proposed a promenade, cycle track, and other urban design interventions around the lake to improve walkability. As part of that plan, it had initiated a cadastral survey, noting the extent, value, and ownership of the land, and geotechnical studies along the lake’s banks. However, the proposed cycle track was dropped following strong opposition from environmentalists.
Currently, the BMC has commissioned a total station survey to accurately mark the lake’s boundaries on-site and on official maps. The survey will help establish precise coordinates of the lake’s limits and is expected to provide clarity on encroachments and permissible activity zones around Powai Lake. This comprehensive approach is crucial for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of this vital water body.
