To reduce water pollution, BMC to lay additional sewer lines along rivers

In order to prevent further pollution of the city's rivers, such as the Mithi, Poisar and Dahisar rivers, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to construct additional sewer lines around these rivers.

The pollution levels in the city rivers have increased in the last few years, thanks to an increasing number of slums around the rivers, which not only throw garbage into the rivers, but also empty their sewerage into the rivers.

Besides, industrial waste generated by industries lining the river also contaminate the water, increasing its toxicity.

To control the problem, at least to a certain extent, the BMC is now preparing to install additional sewer connections near the city's rivers. The civic body also plans to create a protection wall along the river and a service road beside it. The sewer lines will be laid under the service road.

The BMC also plans to remove slums which have proliferated around the rivers over the years. The BMC has made little progress in this regard, as removal of slums requires several government permissions and heavy monitoring to ensure they don't come back.

The sewage collected at the Mithi river will be treated at the Bandra sewerage pumping station and the sewage collected at the Dahisar river will be treated at the Malad pumping station before being discharged into the sea. The civic body claims the work has begun near the Dahisar and the Mithi rivers.

The issue was first raised by corporator Sheetal Mhatre in the general body meeting of the BMC a few months ago. The BMC stated its plans to lay sewer lines in a reply that will be brought up in the next standing committee meeting.