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BMC told to prepare proposal to resolve Dahisar river's problems

The minister has asked the authorities to solve the issues related to the revival of the river or face suspension.

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In what can be a shot in the arm for activists fighting for the revival of Dahisar river, environment minister Ramdas Kadam has warned BMC to prepare proposal for resolving three crucial issues faced by the river within three months or face suspension.

It was during a meeting at Mantralaya last week where Kadam praising the work of River March — a citizen led initiative that has been working on the ground demanding rejuvenation of Dahisar — asked BMC to take the matter of Dahisar river at priority.

"For the past three years we have been campaigning to get this river, which originates inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), revived as the river once it leaves the forest area resembles a sewer.

While we have been having river walks and even clean up drives, recently our local MLA Prakash Surve met us and fixed a meeting with Kadam," shared Suresh Lala member of River March. According to Lala, after the initial meeting, the environment minister called for a detailed meeting last Monday where several BMC officials as well as mayor and deputy mayor were present along with Sena MLA Surve.

Gopal Jhaveri, another member of River March, said they explained Kadam as well as the BMC officials present during the meeting that the three major issues plaguing Dahisar river as soon as the river left the forest were a Dhobi Ghat, Sewerage entering the river at Kulupwadi and the Tabela on the Western Express Highway that was directly releasing all the waste directly into the river.

"Under River March and with consultation with experts as well as Rajendra Singh, who is regarded as Waterman of India we have been asking BMC to begin revival of Dahisar river by resolving these three issues. There should be a waste water treatment plant at Dhobi Ghat as we do not want the washermen to be evicted from the place along with it the there should be treatment of sewage water coming from Kulupwadi and Devipada and Daulat Nagar before it enters the river," said Jhaveri, adding that apart from this it was BMC's job to ensure that no solid waste from Tabela should be released directly into the river.

Speaking to dna, Surve said that the environment minister had assured full support of his ministry for the work of getting the river restored to its original glory and had even warned BMC officials that they might have to face suspension if they delay the work further.

"BMC officials have been asked to study three issues and prepare proposals accordingly within three months and environment minster even told BMC officials that funds will be sanctioned for the same," said Surve.

If sources are to be believed, the Dahisar river revival project has been a bone of contention between the Sena and BJP. It was during October 2015 that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced funds of Rs 150 crore had left local Sena councillors and leaders upset as they alleged that it were they who were working on this issue for several years.

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