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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to rejuvenate 319 ponds across Mumbai and turn them into clean, attractive spaces for public use and tourism. The initiative will be funded through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from private companies, with the aim of improving aesthetics, biodiversity, and cultural value. The first phase will include 30 ponds across different wards. Heritage ponds such as Bandra Talao and Banganga Tank will also be restored to promote local tourism and preserve Mumbai's cultural identity.
The BMC has initiated an extensive plan to restore 319 ponds across Mumbai and convert them into recreational and tourist-friendly locations. The project is expected to be funded through CSR partnerships with private companies, allowing the civic body to improve the environmental and cultural condition of these ponds without depending entirely on municipal budgets. The plan aims to enhance biodiversity, maintain ecological balance, and offer residents more open spaces for leisure and community activities. Advertisement
According to a senior civic official, the project will begin with the restoration of 30 ponds situated across various municipal wards. These ponds have been selected based on accessibility, public use, and their current state of upkeep. Once this phase is completed successfully, the civic body plans to extend the initiative to the remaining ponds.
Of the 319 ponds identified, 309 are owned and managed by the BMC, while 10 others come under agencies such as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and a few other local authorities. Following a directive from the municipal commissioner, the BMC has started collecting detailed data about these ponds, including their size, depth, and surrounding land conditions. The data will be used to prepare individual restoration plans, ensuring that each pond's ecological and social value is enhanced.
An official explained that surveys are being conducted for each pond separately to study the water quality, surrounding structures, and current maintenance needs. Based on these findings, the civic body will decide the most suitable restoration model for each site. These models may include de-silting, desilting and landscaping, creating pathways, and improving lighting and cleanliness around the ponds.
The BMC's plan also gives special attention to heritage ponds such as Bandra Talao and Banganga Tank, which hold significant cultural and historical importance. Bandra Talao, for example, is a Grade II heritage structure that has served as a landmark in the area for several centuries. The civic body plans to use such ponds to promote local tourism and highlight Mumbai's cultural heritage through preservation and beautification.
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