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The Maharashtra government has reviewed the reduction of land reserved for the Worli sewage treatment plant following a High Court order that halted construction on the site. Senior officials from the Urban Development department, BMC and SRA examined how the reserved area was reduced without statutory modification of the Development Plan. The court sought explanations on approvals granted for transit buildings on the land. The state reiterated the importance of the STP as critical civic infrastructure and reviewed whether the reduced land area is adequate for long-term sewage treatment requirements.
The Maharashtra government has carried out an internal review of the decision to reduce the land reserved for the Worli sewage treatment plant after the Bombay High Court directed authorities to stop further construction on the site. The review involved senior officials from the Urban Development department, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, focusing on legal compliance and planning procedures related to the land reservation. Advertisement
The land parcel was originally reserved for the sewage treatment plant in the Development Plan, covering over 27,900 sq m. Civic records show that the reserved area was later reduced by around 10,200 sq m, bringing it down to about 17,750 sq m. This reduction was communicated through a BMC proposal under Development Control Regulations 2034, but the Development Plan itself was not formally amended through the statutory process laid out under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
The High Court intervened after petitions questioned how construction of transit buildings was permitted on land earmarked for a critical public utility. The court sought clarification from the state government and BMC on whether such a reduction could be carried out without following the mandatory procedure for modifying land reservations. It also asked authorities to explain the basis on which approvals were granted despite the land being reserved for sewage treatment purposes.
During the review meeting, the state government reiterated that the sewage treatment plant is an essential component of Mumbai's sanitation infrastructure. Officials examined whether the reduced land area would be sufficient to support present and future sewage treatment needs, especially given the growing population and environmental compliance requirements in the city.
Civic sources indicated that the issue has wider implications, as transit accommodation for slum rehabilitation was allowed on reserved utility land. A senior opposition councillor has raised concerns with the civic administration, seeking clear instructions to prevent development permissions on land reserved for public utilities without following legal procedures. The letter also called for a review of similar approvals granted on municipal or reserved land.
Reports have also pointed out that parts of the transit building were constructed and some residents had already moved in before the court ordered a halt to further work. This has added urgency to the state's review, as authorities must now address both the legality of past decisions and the future planning of the sewage treatment facility.
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