Mithi river rehab kicks off

The state government today launched the much-awaited Mithi river development project in Mumbai. The Rs 130 crore project will be completed in two phases. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will undertake the work of deepening, widening and desilting of the river.

The first phase, costing Rs 26.81 crore, will be completed by June 15. The second phase will be completed by June 30 next year. Work orders for the first phase have already been issued on March 2, sources said.

The action plan for the project includes - widening of the river channel, cross-drainage work in the catchment area, removal of encroachments along the river banks, solid waste disposal systems, cancellation of licence of polluting industries, curbing effluent discharge in the river and construction of public toilets.

In the second phase, starting September 15, MMRDA will use the remaining Rs 103.99 crore for rehabilitating displaced people and beautifying the river banks. The government will provide 225 sq ft tenements to each of the 6,000 displaced families free of cost.

"We have started the resettlement work for the affected families. We plan to settle them first," said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, while inaugurating the project.

Deshmukh also expressed apprehension on uninterrupted flow of people to the city. "The government requests that there should be no addition of hutments in the city otherwise the administration will take strict action," he said.

He also said the project-affected people can not sell the tenements provided to them at least for 10 years.

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) of Pune and the Centre for Environment Science Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai, have made a few recommendations after undertaking a study of the problems along the river.

According to the recommendations, the bridges and crossings on the river should maintain the width of the river either by reconstructing or repositioning of ducts. The study submitted by CWPRS and IIT has recommended immediate removal of all hutments on either side of the river.

In addition, industrial units lying within 500 metre along the river should provide proper waste water collection, storage, treatment and disposal facility in the form of common effluent treatment plant (CETP).

The study also observes that the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai should review the collection and disposal system of solid waste within 500 metre on both sides of the river.

The study further recommends that trees such as banana, basil, lantana and identical shrubs and trees should be planted on the slopes, going right up to the edge of the water.