Plants on Mithi at Marol help mosquitoes breed

The growth of water hyacinth-like plants in Mithi river near the international airport in Andheri has turned the stretch into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, complain civic activists.

While activists blame water blockage due to on-going construction of two bridges (Lathia Rubber and MTNL) over the river in Chimatpada leading to the plants’ growth, experts feel even the increasing pollution levels along this stretch has triggered the problem.

“Chimatpada and Saki Naka areas have been facing the mosquito menace for a month now due to the stagnant water. And the plants are making the river a haven for the insects,”  said Ravi Nair, a volunteer with the NGO, AGNI.

Nair said the NGO had taken up the mosquito menace issue at Andheri, which is close to the airport, hotels and several residential and commercial structures, with civic officials, but the problem remains largely unsolved.

“The problem is such that one-time fumigation will not curb the menace. The plants, which have covered the 500m-long river bed, need to be removed,” he said.

James John, also an AGNI volunteer, said that as the construction work on the two bridges is likely to take time, the municipal corporation should make arrangements to ensure that the water flows smoothly.

“We have taken efforts to control the malaria menace in Chimatpada. But if the existing problem is overlooked, the menace will be back to haunt the locals,” John added.

A senior civic official from the roads, traffic and bridges department (eastern suburbs) passed the buck to the storm water drains (SWD) department. “Our job is to construct bridges. But, in view of public convenience, we escalated the issue with the SWD officials and they are looking into the matter,” the official said.
SWD officials said they would visit the spot on Saturday to take stock of the situation and gave an assurance that the problem would be resolved on a priority basis.

“If the situation is too bad, we will remove the plants within the next two days,” a senior SWD official said.