Dahisar river highly polluted, water quality test shows

The Dahisar river to the north of the city is highly polluted, as per a water quality test conducted recently by a BMC corporator. The test, conducted at the behest of ex-Mayor Dr Shubha Raul, shows that the river water contains sewage, has a high acidic level and almost zero levels of oxygen.

This is probably for the first time that such a test of water quality from any river in Mumbai has been done. Raul, a Shiv Sena corporator from Dahisar, said that the river abuts her ward, and the test is the first step towards cleaning it. She told dna, "Even if we see the river, it is evident that it is polluted."

The BMC is responsible for the condition the river is in, she said. "We are abusing our natural resources. BMC treats the river as a drain and nothing more. The level of pollutants found in the Dahisar river are beyond imagination. We took 20 samples from 10 locations across the stretch of the river and sent them for testing in a laboratory. All the samples smell of sewage and are yellow in colour, as there are sources of pollutants present at each location. None of the samples tested clean or potable," said Raul.

She added, "The Ph levels are high, acidic levels are high, nitrite levels are high. Chlorides are reaching maximum limits."

Next week, Raul plans to meet the Municipal Commissioner, and show him the test results. She wants to put all the reports in the public domain so that NGOs, environmentalists, activists and the public at large take note of the grave situation.

She said, "I am planning to meet the national committee which is handling the cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. They are releasing good bacteria into the rivers, so that bad bacteria die, and more oxygen is released. I will submit the test reports to the committee and request them to help in cleaning Dahisar river. Also I will request the Municipal Commissioner to fund the cleaning of this river."