A BMC report states that large amount of sewage is dumped into rivers and desilting has not made a difference
As Mumbaikars celebrated 'River Utsav' on Sunday, they marched along the Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and Mithi river to highlight the deteriorating condition of the five rivers and neglect by the state authorities. A BMC report reveals that there are still at least 5,933 encroachments to be removed along the five rivers which includes the Vakola nullah.
According to the report, the Dahisar river has 901 encroachments, Poisar river has 3,176 encroachments, Vakola river has 575, Oshiwara has 44 and Mithi river has 1,237 encroachments. The report also states that a large amount of sewage from these slum encroachments is flushed into the river on a regular basis. Desilting has not made a difference so far.
Completion of the BMC's ambitious Brihanmumbai's stormwater disposal (Brimstowad) project, aimed to ease floods in Mumbai during monsoons, has been massively delayed due to slum encroachments along the Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and Mithi river. The July 26, 2005 deluge was a grim reminder of the attention the city's five rivers need.
Chetan Gandhi, an environment activist said, "We should get our rivers back. Not only is the sewage from slums directly dumped into the rivers but also many building drainage lines have their outlets in these rivers. It is high time that people learn the importance of flora and fauna. The civic body needs to take strong measures to relocate the slum dwellers along the rivers. If the rivers are not cleaned, a situation like overflowing of Mithi river during the 2005 floods cannot be avoided."
Before the 2012 civic elections, the ruling alliance in the BMC had promised that the Brimstowad project would be completed by 2013. However, it has missed the scheduled deadline, as civic officials have not done much to address the encroachment issue.
About 3,000 of the 12,000 slum dwellers along the Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and Vakola rivers have been rehabilitated as Project Affected Person's (PAPs). Of the remaining 9,000 slum dwellers, some were deemed ineligible as PAPs after surveys were conducted by the Collector's office, PAPs have now approached the court contesting the decision.
In case of the Mithi river, of 5,300 slum dwellers, surveys and determination of eligibility as PAPs are yet to be carried out for 1,500 persons. While work on the Mithi river was originally under Brimstowad, it is now being undertaken by the Mithi River Development and Protection Authority.
Subhash Rane, a resident of Malad and social activist said, "The BMC uses small vehicles in slum areas to collect garbage. Sometimes when the vehicle does not turn up, they directly throw the collected garbage in the nearby area's river. The main reason for river pollution is unawareness among slum dwellers. The PAP's under the Brimstowad project should be rehabilitated at the earliest."
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