Maritime museum sails in fresh water…….Chittaranjan Tembhekar
The only maritime museum for Mumbai and its neighbouring areas located in Nhava, near Uran, has undergone a sea change.
The Environment Improvement Society (EIS) of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has renovated the museum as part of a project to conserve the fragile marine ecology in and around Nhava, preserve the precious mangrove cover in the region, and promote awareness about environment and tourism among its residents.
The EIS started the project on April 1, 2007, with March this year as the deadline for completion. But, it was delayed by two months.
The Marine museum, which started off as an institutional museum in 1912, is housed in a vintage, Gothic-style building that once belonged to the famous shipbuilding family of the Wadias. It is a tribute to the countrys rich maritime heritage of over 4,000 years.
According to MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar, the society spent Rs21.8 lakh on the project.
The major works under the project were introduction of reed-bed water purification system and repairing of the dry dock and boat displays. The existing boat sheds have been modified and five vintage boats have been repaired.
A marine training school, hospital and a navik school, around the museum have also got a facelift under the project.
The reed-bed system purifies domestic waste water. The water is passed through layers of septic tanks full of deep-rooted plants like Travellers Palm, Cycus, Fan, Palm, and Spider Lilly, which act as filters. Guppi fish were also introduced in the system to prevent breeding of mosquito.
The system helps conserve 55 cubic metres of water everyday.