|
BMC gets charge of cleaning 3 rivers
Mumbai: The state government’s plans for establishing an independent authority to deal with the cleanup of three rivers in the suburbs, Oshiwara, Poisur and Dahisar, have been quietly set aside.
The authority established for the Mithi river in 2005 called the Mithi River Development Authority(MRDA) has been organising the widening and cleaning up of the river.
A ccording to civic circles, the three rivers would have been treated in a more focussed manner if an authority was established to look after their clean-up and beautification.
Clean-up work on the three rivers is now being done by the municipal corporation.
The issue of a separate authority for the three rivers was first mentioned publicly by the former Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority(MMRDA) T Chandrashekhar shortly after the floods in 2005. He had announced plans for cleaning up of the three rivers and said that the institution of a authority for these three rivers was being discussed.
Later, MMRDA officials said that the three rivers might be brought under the charge of the MRDA to ensure that their clean-up was done speedily.
When contacted, the joint project director of the MMRDA, Dilip Kawathkar said that the charge for clean-up of the three rivers had been handed over to the BMC.
Senior municipal engineers said that they were doing the clean-up work under the Brimstowad Scheme. They said that the entire Brimstowad project envisioned building of drains in the city at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.
“The Poisur river would be widened from 12 to 28 metres in some parts and rocky outcrops on the banks would be demolished. This project would cost Rs 110 crore, the Dahisar the Oshiwara rivers would also be cleaned up, and the total bill is expected to be around Rs 200 crore,’’ the engineers said.
Rishi Agarwal of the Mumbai Environmental Social Network, however, adds that the holistic view required for the clean-up is missing. “In some parts there are hutments along the banks of these three rivers. Also concrete structures are sprouting up everywhere and tackling these issues will not be easy,’’ he said.
|