Navi Mumbai: Activists Urge NMMC To Assess Morbe Dam Silt As Water Security Concerns Grow

October 9, 2026 – Environmental activists have urged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to conduct a thorough evaluation of sediment build-up at Morbe Dam, as water supply disruptions across the city have raised alarms about long-term water security. NatConnect Foundation, which has been advocating for water conservation measures, has requested the civic body to assess the current storage capacity, sediment load, and feasibility of removing silt from Morbe Dam.

B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, pointed out that the NMMC has not desilted the dam since it fell under municipal control around 25 years ago. Activists have expressed concern over the dam's storage capacity, which has dropped to 43.24% of its designed capacity in May 2025, with only 51.957 million cubic meters (MCM) of usable water available. This is far below the 190.890 MCM that the dam is designed to hold.

Activists have called for a comprehensive assessment to determine whether removing silt from Morbe Dam is feasible, given that the process becomes increasingly difficult once a reservoir is full. They argue that proactive measures are needed to address declining water storage levels and prevent future water crises. The activists also advocated for expanded rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and the use of treated sewage water for non-potable purposes to reduce demand for potable water.