Scrap dumping makes Mithi de-silting futile

Rampant dumping of scrap into the Mithi at Kurla has undone all the effort to de-silt the river.

The residents of Kapadia Nagar, Kurla (West), complained that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started the work a bit too late to finish before monsoon.

Besides, the work will only yield result if action is taken against scrap dealers who dump waste into the river.

Like every year, this year too there are fears that the low-lying Kapadia Nagar complex, comprising around 750 flats in 24 buildings, will be waterlogged during monsoon.

“The outlet of the complex’s drainage system opens into the river. Due to continuous illegal dumping of metal waste, the outlet gets blocked, leading to waterlogging in the complex,” said a resident, not wishing to be named.

“During high tide, the problem becomes worse. Recently, we unclogged the outlet opening but are afraid that if the dumping continues, we will have to face waterlogging this monsoon too,” he added.

Alleging that a good amount of public money is ‘going down the drain’, the residents first want action against the scrap dealers, who have set up shops along the CST and behind Kapadia Nagar complex. They also want a proper drainage system to be constructed along the CST Road to ensure rain water doesn’t flood the complex.

“There is a need to construct a drainage system along the busy road, which has been occupied by scrap dealers illegally, leading to traffic jams. So, the authorities will have to first remove the encroachments and then construct a drainage system,” another resident said.    

The occupants have also sought construction of retaining wall along the entire stretch so scrap dealers don’t have easy access to the river to dump garbage. “Several times we have forwarded the issue to the MMRDA, but in vain. It leads to doubts whether the officials are palm-greased for allowing dumping of waste here,” he added.

Ashwini Bhide, MMRDA additional metropolitan commissioner, said taking action against illegal dumpers was not under the authority’s purview.

He assured the residents that a retaining wall would be constructed to plug the outlets from where waste is thrown into the river.

Referring to municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte’s recent appeal against throwing waste into drains, she said: “It is also the onus of people to keep the river clean.”