The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposed ₹11,166 crore Manori Desalination Plant in north suburban Mumbai represents a critical pivot toward securing alternative drinking water sources. Designed to convert seawater into 200 million litres of potable water per day (MLD), with scalability up to 400 MLD, the project aims to mitigate Mumbai's severe summer shortages and reduce reliance on climate-vulnerable, monsoon-fed lakes. Manori is one of three projects through which the BMC hopes to expand Mumbai’s drinking water supply. The site spans CRZ-I(B), CRZ-III and CRZ-IV zones, with a portion falling within a mangrove buffer area. The project will include offshore pipelines to extract and discharge fluids outside sensitive shallow-water fishing limits.
However, the development has triggered a conflict between municipal authorities striving for water security and local fishing communities fighting to protect the environment and traditional livelihoods. Fisherfolk and environmentalists have expressed concern that the plant’s seawater intake and filtration system could affect salinity levels in nearshore waters, affect breeding grounds and fish populations, and create ecological dead zones that impact marine life. The Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) said coastal fishing communities depend heavily on near-shore waters, particularly after the monsoon fishing ban, when fishermen expect to catch high-value fish close to the shore.
The Manori cliff, which is locally known as Bandongar, is also a historically and culturally significant landscape for the local community - archeological experts believe that the site may have served a tool-making centre 10,000-15,000 years ago.
The locals have also complained about non-consultation with stakeholders. Though Gorai Fishermen Society wrote to the BMC multiple times seeking information and demanding a clear and detailed plan on how waste from the plant will be discharged into the sea without damaging marine ecology, they received no response. In a letter to the BMC, the Watchdog Foundation argued that the coastal waters of Mumbai are already impacted by sewage discharge, industrial pollution, plastic waste, reclamation and other developmental pressures; and that the search for new drinking water sources cannot come at the cost of harming an already stressed coastal environment. Communities are also demanding a) a comprehensive environmental impact assessment b) a dedicated marine impact assessment and c) a public hearing before any approvals are granted.
In March 2026, the Koli fishing community demanded immediate halt of the project and alleged that exploratory drilling in the sea has disrupted breeding areas and driven fish away, impacting their daily earnings. The community also expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency by the BMC in communicating the environmental impacts of the project.
A BJP MLA noted that "we already planning Pinjal and Gargai dams. Despite this, the government is going ahead with the desalination project. An expert opinion should be sought on its feasibility,” he said.
Despite opposition to the impacts of the project, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) recommended the project to the CRZ Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCCC) on 25 March 2026. The clearance mandated strict protection of mangrove ecosystems, prevent disruption of natural tidal flow, and ensure fishing activities are not affected.
On 28 April 2026, the MoEFCC granted the final CRZ clearance subject to certain conditions, which included conducting studies on the impact of the project on marine ecology, developing advanced desalination technologies that minimise pollution and conserve natural resources. The MoEFCC also banned activities in the Manori Creek to protect the traditional fishing grounds of local fisherfolk. The project proponent claimed that the infrastructure will be built in such a way that it minimised disturbance to the seabed, and reduces energy usage and carbon footprint by relying on renewable energy.
The BMC Standing Committee formally approved a ₹2,241.3 crore pipeline tunnel contract awarded to Afcons Infrastructure in July 2026. The pipeline will plunge beneath the Gorai Creek using dual Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) to feed desalinated water from the Manori terminal directly into Mumbai's trunk mainland networks at Charkop and Kandivali. The project is expected to be operational by 2029. As of July 2026, the BMC is awaiting approval from the MoEFCC to start constructing the tunnel.
In August 2026, in opposition to project, the MMKS announced a protest rally for 21 August 2026 to oppose the desalination plant and fishing communities from several are expected to participate in it.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Opposition against environmental degradation
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Surveys and approvals be halted until detailed consultations are held with local communities, comprehensive environmental impact assessment, a dedicated marine impact assessment, and a public hearing before any approvals are granted; complaint again loss of livelihood, complaint against lack of transparency in procedural processes
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Coastal
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Fishing, Religious/Sacred/Cultural value
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
11166
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2025
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Fisheries and Aquaculture Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), BMC’s Water Supply Projects Department, Coastal Zone Management Authority, Civic authorities; District Collector, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, MoEFCC's Expert Appraisal Committee; Maharashtra Urbran Development Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
IDE Technologies, GVPR Engineers Limited
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Gorai Fisherman Society, Koli fishing community, Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS), Watchdog Foundation
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Shubham is a housing rights activist based in Mumbai. He has a post graduate from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in urban policy and governance.
