A 1.5-metre foundation has already been dug near the Dhobi Ghat area on the banks of river Dahisar.
Groundwork on Mumbai's first urban check dam has been initiated by Art of Living (AOL) Foundation and is being carried out on a war footing with an aim to complete it by January 26.
A 1.5-metre foundation has already been dug near the Dhobi Ghat area on the banks of river Dahisar. "Concrete work will begin from Wednesday and we are hoping that if everything goes as per the plans of the contractor, we might be able to inaugurate the dam on January 26," said Himanshu Mehta, coordinator of the AOL Dahisar check dam project.
The dam, located between the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Dam and the new check, will be 1.5 meters above the ground. It will have three collapsible gates, which can be removed manually during monsoon to avoid flooding. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 22 lakh.
Meanwhile, since the new check dam portion will be exactly behind the new parking area being constructed outside the SGNP gate, Mehta and members of River March are planning to hold a meeting with the forest department and discuss in detail about how they can make the gate accessible for people so that they can understand the role that check dams.
"We have also told the forest department that we are ready to provide them with 4000 litres of an organic enzyme that is developed by AOL, which will help improve the quality of water, if added to the boating lake inside the forest as well as the stream of Dahisar river, " said Mehta, adding since there is a dhobi ghat near the check dam, they also plan to introduce the enzymes to check dam water with due permission from the forest department.
Vikram Chogle who is a part of the River March movement said that such check dams are the need of the hour. "This check dam will prove to be a blessing for Dahisar river. It will not only help increase the water table but also boost tourism."
FLOWING FACTS
12kms length of Dahisar River
Rs 22 lakh approximate cost of the check dam
700-800 metre stretch of waterfront that will be created
PROPOSED CHECK DAMS
Dahisar River
1) Daulat Nagar
2) Near Rustomjee Schoool
Poisar River
1) Kranti Nagar
2) Damu Nagar
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 "Dahisar River")
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