The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has taken up the project of reviving the historic Banganga Lake at Walkeshwar in South Mumbai. Over the years, due to various reasons, the steps of the lake, the stones of the steps, the lamp posts were in disrepair. Also, there were constructions on the stairs in the lake area. Therefore, according to the order of the state government, the Banganga lake and area revitalization project has been undertaken through the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Under this project, a manual system was initially set up to remove silt from the lake as per the terms of the contract. But the contractor landed the excavator plant at the northern entrance of Banganga Lake on June 24. As a result, the steps were damaged. After this case, the work was withdrawn from the contractor. Since then, the work of Banganga lake was stopped.

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Now, instead of appointing a single contractor, the municipal administration has decided to appoint different contractors for this work. A contractor will be appointed for desilting the lake, for works related to the archeological department and other works. Also, Harbor Engineering Department will be appointed to revive Ramkund. The municipality officials informed that an expenditure of 1 crore 20 lakhs is expected for the work of silt removal and a tender has been called for the same.

Harbor Engineering for Ramkunda

An eleventh-century Ramkunda buried under rubble was discovered in October 2023 during excavations under the Banganga Lake Rejuvenation Project. This Ramkund will be revived and restored to its former glory. Ramkunda’s route is from Banganga to Arabian Sea. Therefore, a lot of permission will be required for this work and this work is of a special nature. Therefore, this work will be given to Harbor Engineering Department under Public Works Department. An expenditure of Rs 2.5 crore is expected for this work.

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There is no municipal funding for the project

A total expenditure of Rs ten to twelve crores is expected for the Banganga revival project. This fund was earlier to come from the tourism department of the state government. But now the officials also said that the project work will be done with the funds given by the fifteenth finance commission for the revival work of the lakes. Therefore, the municipality fund will not have to be used for this work.