The civic body is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the nullahs are cleaned properly to allow smooth discharge of rain water. The storm water drains (SWD) department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come up with a fancy technique to contain floating garbage in major nullahs. The BMC recently procured seven floating booms, which have huge nets to capture floating garbage so that water can flow unobstructed. One such boom is installed in Irla nullah and the rest will be fitted each in Mogra nullah, Lovegrove, Oshiwara, Dahisar, Poisar, and Mithi rivers.
"All seven floating booms will be installed in four rivers and three major nullahs in western suburbs. At Mithi River it will be fitted at the Mahim stretch. The boom is placed nine inches above water level and the net is laid across the nullah from one end to another to capture the floating garbage. This technique will be very useful in the monsoons, as it will help rain water flow unobstructed. We will remove the garbage regularly with a poclain machine," said V Khandkar, Chief Engineer, SWD department.
"One floating boom was installed in Irla nullah last week and we will complete installation of the rest by June first week," he added.
River activist Gopal Jhaveri said, "It is good that they made an effort to introduce a new technique to capture garbage floating in rivers. But it would be more helpful if the BMC ensures that garbage does not flow into the rivers in the first place. They should have the roadside drains, minor nullahs, etc cleaned properly in the first place, which flows the garbage into major nullahs".
WORK IN PROGRESS
One floating boom was installed in Irla nullah last week and we will complete installation of the rest by June first week.
