Box 2: Mumbai’s Unknown Rivers
Mithi river: It originates from the overflow of Vihar Lake and also receives
the overflows from Powai Lake about 2 km later. It flows for a total of 15 km
before meeting the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek. It is a natural drainage
channel for Mumbai suburbs carrying excess waters during the monsoons.
Oshiwara river: It begins in the Aarey Milk Colony, cuts through the
Goregaon hills, before emptying into the Malad Creek. On its way, it picks up
industrial effluents and sewage from various colonies, slums and industrial
estates. It is a highly polluted and encroached upon river. For instance, most
of the call centres in Malad area of Western Suburbs have been built on
reclaimed ground at the mouth of river.
9
Dahisar river: It is a river in the northern suburbs near Dahisar and
originates from Tulsi Lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The river is
currently highly polluted with the dumping of industrial effluents from
workshops, and sewage from slums and storm water drains. The river empties
into Manori Creek.
10
Poisar river: This river also begins in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park,
but empties into the Marve Creek. It is a small stream, which is highly
contaminated because of industrial effluents and sewage.
11
3.3 Slew of Projects
“Post 2005 flood, the MCGM has undertaken various initiatives/projects—adaptation strategies—to prepare the city better and adapt it to various impacts of
climate change. Most of these projects are in accordance with the recommendations
of the Chitale committee,” said Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner,
MCGM.
12 Chitale committee, headed by Madhav Chitale, was a fact-finding
committee set-up by the state government to investigate the reasons behind the July
26 flood. This committee submitted its exhaustive 283-page report in 2006. Before
Chitale committee, there were few more committees that had warned the city
administration about mindless development and neglect of the local water systems.
But, all these reports were ignored (see box 3: Forewarnings ignored).
9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshiwara_River.
10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahisar_River.
11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisar_River.
12
Rajiv Jalota 2013, additional municipal commissioner, MCGM, Oct 3, personal communication.
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
465
Mithi river: It originates from the overflow of Vihar Lake and also receives
the overflows from Powai Lake about 2 km later. It flows for a total of 15 km
before meeting the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek. It is a natural drainage
channel for Mumbai suburbs carrying excess waters during the monsoons.
Oshiwara river: It begins in the Aarey Milk Colony, cuts through the
Goregaon hills, before emptying into the Malad Creek. On its way, it picks up
industrial effluents and sewage from various colonies, slums and industrial
estates. It is a highly polluted and encroached upon river. For instance, most
of the call centres in Malad area of Western Suburbs have been built on
reclaimed ground at the mouth of river.
9
Dahisar river: It is a river in the northern suburbs near Dahisar and
originates from Tulsi Lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The river is
currently highly polluted with the dumping of industrial effluents from
workshops, and sewage from slums and storm water drains. The river empties
into Manori Creek.
10
Poisar river: This river also begins in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park,
but empties into the Marve Creek. It is a small stream, which is highly
contaminated because of industrial effluents and sewage.
11
3.3 Slew of Projects
“Post 2005 flood, the MCGM has undertaken various initiatives/projects—adaptation strategies—to prepare the city better and adapt it to various impacts of
climate change. Most of these projects are in accordance with the recommendations
of the Chitale committee,” said Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner,
MCGM.
12 Chitale committee, headed by Madhav Chitale, was a fact-finding
committee set-up by the state government to investigate the reasons behind the July
26 flood. This committee submitted its exhaustive 283-page report in 2006. Before
Chitale committee, there were few more committees that had warned the city
administration about mindless development and neglect of the local water systems.
But, all these reports were ignored (see box 3: Forewarnings ignored).
9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshiwara_River.
10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahisar_River.
11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisar_River.
12
Rajiv Jalota 2013, additional municipal commissioner, MCGM, Oct 3, personal communication.
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
465