New rule will give respite to Mithi river

Soon, the Mithi river will no longer have to take the city’s sewage discharge and effluents.

According to a new amendment that will be introduced in the River Restoration Zone (RRZ) policy, industries near rivers will have to install equipment or technology to ensure zero toxic discharge or effluents.

The amendment in the policy, formulated in 2006, will be announced by the state environment ministry on World Environment Day on Saturday.

The ministry will give the industries about three years to install the required equipment to control pollution. Also, the new amendment will prohibit companies from setting up plants in the RRZ area or within 3km from both the banks of the river.

Sachin Ahir, minister of state for environment, said: “We are the only state in the country to take a proactive decision on the RRZ policy with the new amendment, which will be sharpened to stop the misuse of rivers. We know there have been some lapses. But we are now coping with it now so that the next generation does not curse us.”

However, Girish Raut, environmentalist and member of Mithi Nadi Sansad, said this amendment would not help protect the rivers in Mumbai.

“This [the new amendment] isn’t possible and practical. It’s too late. About 80% of the river is now polluted. These measures won’t help. The problem has reached gigantic proportions. About Rs2,000 crore is being spent on the Ganga purification project for past 18 years, and it’s of no use. This will happen to Mithi as well,” Raut said.