Activists call for 'Jal Satyagraha' to protest river exploitation

Activists and members of River March — a citizens group that has been fighting for the rejuvenation of Mumbai's four rivers — have decided to take to Jal Satyagraha from Sunday in Poisar river. The group is protesting against the concretisation work on the river bed being carried out by the municipal corporation.

The decision was taken on Saturday after Rajendra Singh, who is known as 'India's waterman' and also been the face of citizen-initiated Mumbai's River Revival Project, visited the Kandivli site near Western Express Highway where work was going on. Singh not only questioned the reason for wasting taxpayers money, but said the move was damaging the Poisar river ecosystem.

Gopal Jhaveri one of the founding members of River March said, "We have already emailed Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis opposing the work of setting up a retaining wall and bed of concrete. We will protest from Sunday morning onwards."

The group has also decided to approach National Green Tribunal (NGT) if BMC does not stop the work and remove the concrete already laid on the bed of one of the tributaries from Thakur Complex to Poisar river. "We have decided that at least 25 to 30 citizens will gather at the site with placards to urge BMC not to concretise our rivers. It will also help create awareness among those who regard Poisar as a nallah, and not a river," said Rajesh Jain, volunteer for River March.       

Singh, who hails from Rajasthan and is known for his efforts to revive rivers in villages to help fight water scarcity, criticised concretisation work saying it will reduce groundwater levels. "After hearing about how authorities were killing Poisar river, I decided to visit the site and was pained by what I saw. The judiciary and NGT has clearly ruled against making concrete beds in rivers," he said, saying it was evident that BMC only wants to call Poisar a 'river' on paper as they are "busy making it a nallah".

Singh said that it was time for citizens to stand up and save rivers. "Citizens will have to begin a strong movement just like the 'Chipko' movement for rivers. They will have to put a stop to the concretisation work on the river bed," he said, adding that situation of Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and Mithi rivers was critical.

A BMC official said the retaining walls of nallahs across the city are being concretised. "We do not know why citizens are protesting as the work will ensure that the wall does not collapse during rains. It is being done to support the wall," he said.