Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam (Shiv Sena) on Thursday conducted a meeting with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to discuss the project for rejuvenating four rivers in Mumbai — namely Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara, and Mithi. The minister also asked BMC to submit an action plan report by June 1, senior BMC officials said.
"The action plan will majorly include the steps to stop emission of sewerage directly into the rivers from slum settlements nearby. We also have been asked to inform about the number of unauthorised sewerage line connections in the slums along these rivers. Most of the work will be carried out by Mumbai Sewerage Disposal Project officials. We will soon prepare our action plan and have been asked to submit it in the next meeting with the Environment Ministry," a senior BMC official said.
The four rivers mentioned are extremely polluted with excessive untreated sewage being emitted every single day. The rivers also have high amount of garbage, especially plastic thrown into it, which blocks the flow of rain water. The pollution in the river has killed natural habitats and they now look like nullahs.
It was only after river activists raised a hue and cry about this issue that the government took the Rejuvenation of Rivers project seriously. The BMC, for the first time, has earmarked Rs 25 lakh in its fiscal budget of 2018-19 for appointing consultants to work on it.
During the river march organised in March this year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his wife Amruta Fadnavis, and Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar extended full support. The state government had also promised the protesters that the rejuvenation of rivers will begin this year.
