Nets, odour and mosquito control for Mithi River

MMRDA blocks mouth of the river along the BKC stretch to prevent waste from receding from the Mahim Creek post Ganeshotsav

While thousands of Mumbaikars will bid adieu to the elephant-God as Ganesh Chaturthi comes to an end tomorrow, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will begin work to prevent clogging of the Mithi River, along the Bandra Kurla Ccomplex (BKC)-stretch.

A net line across the Mithi River near the Sion Bandra Link Road exit

To ensure that the nirmalyas (religious offerings) and plastic waste, which is dumped into Mahim Creek, does not recede into the Mithi River during high tide, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has put up nets to block the mouth of the river stretch near BKC near the exit of the Sion Bandra Link Road.

Being the special planning authority for BKC, the authorities also has plans to spend R6 crore to carry out an odour control process, which will also prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. Last week, it invited tenders for the cleaning and odour control of Mithi River and Vakola Nalla passing through the BKC stretch. Tenders will be awarded by November.

“We have taken advice from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI),” the official said.
An official said, “The 2005 deluge in Mumbai was primarily due to the garbage waste that clogged the Mithi River. Post the deluge, the MMRDA removed the garbage and silt. We don’t want the plastic waste to block the river again.

The nets will collect the plastic waste, which will be discarded later.” The body plans to set up more nets at other spots, too. After the deluge, MMRDA carried out widening, deepening and de-silting of the Mithi River, to the foul odour and mosquito breeding problem for residents in the area.

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