Mumbai: Mounds of debris rise along Mithi, raise fears of blocks

MUMBAI: Risk of flooding this monsoon in case of heavy rains has increased as huge mounds of debris dumped along the Mithi river lie uncleared. BMC officials estimate that several hundred trucks of debris have been deposited along the east bank of the Mithi in Aarey Colony.
The mounds of debris have risen to such a height that it has alarmed the BMC storm water drain department (SWD) which is responsible for pre-monsoon cleaning of the river. Civic officials said if the debris is not cleared soon and if it rains heavily, debris will slide into the river and obstruct its flow. "BMC shall be held responsible if the Mithi chokes and Mumbai floods," said an official.
Activist Amrita Bhattacharjee had complained in 2020 to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) of debris-dumping on Mithi's banks. "After the complaint, dumping had stopped for some time. I frequently visit the place and in the last two months the height and quantum of debris has increased exponentially," she said. Bhattacharjee has once again lodged a complaint with MPCB.
The SWD early this month informed the K/East (Andheri East) and S (Mulund) ward officers that it has received complaints of unauthorised dumping of debris/excavated material along Mithi's east bank near the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road bridge.
The SWD is laying a sewer line besides working on improving the flow of the Mithi (widening, deepening, construction of retaining wall and service road) between Ashok Nagar, Andheri East and Filterpada, Powai. It has sought information from ward offices to stop the debris-dumping.
While the K/E ward has informed that the dumping is outside its limits, the S ward has written to authorities in Aarey Colony saying the location falls under their jurisdiction.
Aarey CEO Subhash Dalvi, who was recently transferred to Worli, said he had already filed two FIRs-in April and May-against unidentified persons over illegal dumping. B Wakhchaure, who replaced Dalvi, said he would gather information and see what is to be done.
Sources said it is suspected that the dumping on such a large scale in plain sight may have been done by a contractor working with a government agency. The work on Metro Line 6 has been underway on the JVLR. "There are no CCTV cameras along Mithi river since it is uninhabited. It is now for the police to investigate how debris in such large quantities has been dumped along the river unnoticed," said civic sources.
Since the land on which the debris has been dumped is owned by the state dairy development department, BMC will not be removing it, said civic officials. "It is for the Aarey authorities to remove it," said an official on condition of anonymity. Mumbai is vulnerable to flooding, especially if Mithi is choked, as was experienced in the 2005 deluge. The flooding of the Mithi (which over the years had been reduced to a nullah) brought the city to a standstill and over 1,000 people lost their lives. Following the 2005 floods, a project to widen and deepen the Mithi and build retaining walls on either side of the river has been underway.