The MMRDA’s reclamation of the marsh surrounding the river to create the Bandra-Kurla Complex is reported to be partly responsible for the 26/7 deluge
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) reclamation of the marsh surrounding the Mithi river to create the Bandra- Kurla Complex is partly responsible for the 26/7 deluge, feel experts in disaster management and urban development.
They also demand an immediate freeze in the further development of the commercial hub’s project.
But the MMRDA justifies its development as necessary for creating a commercial hub which would attract corporates and boost the city’s economy.
At least 218 hectares of the Bandra-Kurla Complex has already been developed since 1977. It will occupy 370 hectares of land when complete.
Much of the complex is built on what used to be the Mithi’s floodplain. For example, the
MMRDA head office stands on a spot near the Mahim creek where the river met the sea. The National Stock Exchange building was built by filling in one of the arms of the river. Effectively, the MMRDA reclaimed the floodplain which was required by the river for dumping its load of water, experts say.
In the absence of unoccupied floodplain near the river, the floodwater immersed the surrounding suburbs.
The Mithi’s floodplain mostly consisted of mangrove forests, protected under law. But the Centre allowed the MMRDA to develop the project by relaxing the rules. However, experts had cautioned against the development since mangroves acted as buffers and help to accommodate floodwater.
In 1993, a committee comprising environment, forest, civic officials and an NGO appointed to plan the Mahim Nature Park said, “… the present kind of work i.e. deep excavation could increase accumulation of water which would threaten even the existing mangroves….’’
The mangroves on the land which MMRDA reclaimed would have absorbed most of the floodwaters, said Girish Raut, an environmentalist and advocate.
Experts say it is not too late as there still are some measures the MMRDA can take to augment the capacity of the Mithi and prevent a repeat of 26/7. Raut recommends returning about 150 acres of undeveloped land lying at the back of the Diamond Bourse building back to the river.
Raut said that this land would accommodate a lot of floodwater which would otherwise flow into the surrounding areas. Besides returning the land to the river, architect and urban researcher Arvind Adarkar said that the MMRDA should freeze further development of the Bandra-Kurla complex.
Blueprint of disaster
*The MMRDA head office stands on a spot near the Mahim creek where the river met the sea
*The National Stock Exchange building was built by filling in one of the arms of the river
*The MMRDA reclaimed the floodplain which was required by the river for dumping its load of water
*The Mithi’s floodplain mostly consisted of mangrove forests, protected under law. But the Centre allowed the MMRDA to develop the project by relaxing the rules
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