Mumbai: BMC wary of MMRDA’s proposed road along Mithi banks

Mithi river. File pic

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed a road along the Mithi river bank in Bandra-Kurla Complex, that can cause trouble for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The road could close the approach to the river and it may be difficult for the BMC to clean the Mithi river in future.

Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal visited the site where desilting work on the Mithi river was underway on Thursday. Civic officials expressed concern about MMRDA's proposed road.

"In BKC, along the Mithi river, there is a kaccha road which BMC uses to transport machines to the river for desilting work. MMRDA's proposed road in the area will close the approach to the river," said a BMC official.

Chahal said the issue needs to be discussed. " We will discuss this with the MMRDA authority and work out a solution," he said.

The BMC has awarded a contract for two years for Rs 63 crore to desilt the Mithi river. However, a BMC official said that at Vakola they have an issue as they are not being allowed to dump the silt on open land which is owned by the Mumbai University. Chahal said they will write to the university about this.

The 18-km long river originates at Vihar lake and passes through Powai, Andheri East, Kurla, and BKC. Untreated sewage dumped along its course not only causes pollution but obstructs its flow.