NGO Vanashakti writes to authorities over poor treatment of Oshiwara river

NGO Vanashakti has written to the BMC and the state environment department pointing to the rampant concretisation of Oshiwara river in Aarey Colony, mentioning that this will impact both, the river and the forest. This comes amid the state government's claims to revive the city rivers, which are already drying up by the year.

Oshiwara river is one of the four rivers of Mumbai — Dahisar, Poisar, Mithi and Oshiwara. It finds its origin from the mountains near Goregoan east and traverses through Aarey Colony further merging in to Malad Creek.

Vanashakti, in its letter, has expressed shock over massive walls being built on both sides and the river bed — close to the Goregaon exit at the Aarey Colony, being filled up with mud and rubble alleging that this was nothing but an attempt to dry up the forests. The NGO has also pointed it out that the work was in complete violation as there was a status quo by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on any work being carried out inside Aarey.

Stalin D, Director Conservation for Vanashakti said that he could not understand the logic of having a wall on a river inside a forest unless the hidden agenda was to create land for real estate. "There are hardly any human settlements inside this site of Aarey and if any have never faced any issues of flooding or damage. But with the extensive reclamation and concretising of the river sides and bottom, severe environmental damage is bound to happen," he said. He added that this was a sheer waste of public money and attempts to destroy a forest and a river.

Stalin added that building the wall and filling the beds with rubble will greatly impact the ground water retention and make the river a sewer drain. "The forests of Aarey are closely linked with both Mithi and Oshiwara rivers and are interdependent on each other for their survival. All rivers, water bodies and wetlands have to be kept free of cement and concrete," he said adding that if this work was not stopped and restoration of river floodplain as well as bed was not carried out they will be forced to knock the doors of judiciary.

Meanwhile a BMC official said that they have all the requisite permissions for the work and the work was being done after repairing the old bridge, which gave way during the floods in 2017. "Such walls are constructed all over the city to ensure swift flow of water," said the official.