Introducing: A river in Mumbai!

By Sanket ‘watered down’ Kambli

Post-floods many people seem to have understood the meaning and importance of mangroves. And this has put focus on a river, a river in Mumbai, have you recovered from the shock, no, this isn't a typo Error, Mumbai does have a river, it’s called Mithi River. River Mithi is a union of tail water discharges of Powai and Vihar lakes (found it in geography books!!). The river is seasonal and swells during the monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the flow which is stopped by a dam in other times. During this season the river is a favorite with the anglers who catch large fish that have escaped from the lakes. Fishing is barred there. The river is also a natural drainage channel which carries the excess waters during the monsoons. However it is filthy mainly due to the presence of slums and the discharge of industrial effluents. The river begins at Powai and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek flowing through residential and industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim over a distance of about 15 km. The river bed is narrow in the initial stretch and is about 10 meters wide but at Bandra-Kurla complex, it is much wider. The river begins at Powai and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek flowing through residential/industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim over a distance of about 15 km. The river bed is narrow initially and is about 10 meters wide but at Bandra-Kurla complex, it is much wider. The river is treated as an open drain by citizens who discharge raw sewage, industrial waste and garbage unchecked. Besides this, illegal activities of washing of oily drums, discharge of unauthorized hazardous waste are also carried out along the course of this river. Cattle sheds in some areas contribute animal waste. Barrel cleaners, scrap dealers and others dump sludge oil, effluent and garbage in the river. The organic waste, sludge and garbage dumping has reduced the carrying capacity of the river. The water with mixture of sewage and industrial waste is a threat to marine life. The river bed is full of sludge, garbage and vegetation growth like hyacinth in many parts. The Maharashtra government has decided to take remedial measures to prevent obstructions to the flow of the Mithi River -- which flows through Mumbai, official sources said on Friday. Meanwhile, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials said that a Mithi River Development and Conservation Authority would be set up soon to decide upon issues like removal of encroachments along the river, prohibition of dumping of toxic chemicals and wastes into it and purification of its water.