A Step To Make The Environment Clean: Mithi River Undergoes Cleansing

As environment day is approaching, many Non-Profit Organizations have undertaken several initiatives to make the environment clean and preserve it for the future. One of the projects led by the citizens is cleaning Mumbai’s waterfronts. Over 5000 people came together over the weekend to accomplish the task.

During the clean-drive most of the trash, almost 8000kgs was found in Mithi river that majorly consisted of plastic waste. The 17.2m long river was cleaned on Sunday morning. Afroz Shah, city advocate who in October 2015 set up, what was soon to become one of the biggest and most inspirational marine litter cleanups, said, “We are focusing on the first 1.3km of the river,”. The river was so filthy it was called an open drain and cleaning it has already made a huge difference.

After the cleaning drive, the volunteers headed into the slums of Filter Pada at the river bank to train 2 million citizens residing there, about ‘Circular Economy’. “We want them to care too about its future, their future. The problems of plastic pollution on the banks of river Mithi River is essentially a socio-economic problem. Mithi rejuvenation is a three-pronged approach to solid waste and liquid waste management and training people on the banks to adopt circular economy” said Shah to TOI.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appointed a Swedish consultant for its Mithi River Water Quality Improvement Program on 31^st May. The Mithi Rejuvenation project, worth more than Rs 650 crore, is being implemented in 4 phases. Civic officials said the project aims to stop the flow of sewage in the river by diverting it to the municipal sewage pumping station, where it will be treated.

Apart from Mithi River more than 7000kg of trash was collected from nine beaches which included Dana Pani beach, Juhu and Chimbai beach. Non-profit organizations such as Beach Please, Lions club, Girgaum Chowpatty Lifeguard Association, Jay Foundations, and many others joined in as a part of the initiative.

“During the clean-up, we realized the quantum of waste we are responsible for. We must reclaim our beaches, rivers and mangrove areas,” said Dr Kersi Chavda while talking to Hindustan Times. The next clean-up drive is held on 5^th June from 7 am onwards at Girgaum Chowpatty, Bandra, Mahim, Cuff Parade, Dadar, Versova Mithi River, and Bandra mangroves is likely to witness the highest amount of participation.