Stalin D, Director, Conservation for NGO Vanashakti ,who filed a petition in Bombay High Court over the rampant construction all around riverbeds, making it difficult for public to have access to the river
Environmentalists fighting for the rejuvenation of all four rivers in Mumbai are demanding that it is high time that the state government pushed BMC to take strong steps for their protection than simply resorting to making tall claims about conservation.
Stalin D, Director, Conservation for NGO Vanashakti ,who filed a petition in Bombay High Court over the rampant construction all around riverbeds, making it difficult for public to have access to the river, said that despite so much money being pushed in name of river improvement, the quality of neither the water nor the overall the river had improved in the city.
"Mumbaikars should be able to access their rivers first and the government should ensure this is made possible and no buildings or construction is allowed on the banks and that the rivers are properly rejuvenated as these are living entities. We will also be raising the issue of concretisation of riverbeds of Dahisar, Poisar and Oshiwara rivers," he said.
As per BMC officials, they are in the final process of awarding the contract for the Rs 200 crore river rejuvenation plan for Dahisar, Oshiwara and Poisar rivers and the consultant will have to provide suggestions for river beautification by first carrying out a detailed study of various parameters as well as the issues surrounding these three rivers.
Meanwhile, activists claim that the biggest problem plaguing all these rivers is the sewage, industrial waste and garbage including plastic.
"One of our demands has been to have a separate authority for rivers that will be dedicated to look into river rejuvenation and will have powers to take action. While on one hand, we are talking about bringing rivers back to life, BMC is carrying out concretisation of riverbeds. In addition, no measure is being taken to ensure that sewage is stopped from entering the river," said Gopal Jhaveri, Founder of River March, adding that despite constant complaints to the BMC, dung from nearby cowsheds was being released daily into the Dahisar river.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "River")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}