However, activists and environmentalists allege that there is lack of coordination
between MCGM and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA), both of which are responsible for desilting the river and depositing the
silt at Kanjurmarg and Mulund dumping grounds. For instance, in May this year,
politician and activist Kirit Somaiya filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court alleging
that the removed silt was being dumped along the river and would be washed back
into the river.
14
According to Vhatkar, as of October 2013, Mithi river has been desilted until the
lakes, from where the river starts its journey. It has also been widened wherever
land was available on the sides of the river. However, questions are being raised on
the efficacy of desilting operations. “Both Kanjurmarg and Mulund dumping
grounds are not scientific landfills. They are not in accordance with the municipal
solid waste management rules and are a major cause of environmental pollution ….
As far as adaptation strategies are concerned, the government lacks holistic
approach. In order to solve one problem, it ends up creating few more,” said Rishi
Aggarwal, a civic activist and member of Observer Research Foundation
(ORF) Mumbai.
Apart from desilting, the corporation is also widening the existing nullahs. The
length of major nullahs across Mumbai is 340 km. A large number of nullahs are at
present 3 m wide. These are being widened as per the available space. In the island
city, the underground arch drains are over 100 years old and were built by the
British. These are 8 × 4 m wide and run 10 feet below the ground surface. “There
is not much scope to widen the underground arch drains …. A total of 30 km arch
drains had to be rehabilitated. We have already completed 20 km stretch. The rest
10 km will be done by May-June 2014,” assured Vhatkar.
15 This is expected to take
care of drainage of excess water from the island city.
In case of the suburbs, there are only open drains and no underground drains.
Thus, there is a scope for widening these drains. Chitale committee report had
recommended widening of 4 m drains to at least 6 m. According to Vhatkar, these
open drains are being widened. In some places, there is no scope for widening
because of heavy construction along the drains. The corporation is digging additional drains in such areas.
Drains that have less than 1.5 m width are called minor nullahs and fall under
the local ward offices’ jurisdiction. These drains are 200 km in length. Apart from
major and minor drains, Mumbai also has road side drains that run for 2000 km.
These are also being desilted and widened by the corporation.
14
http://news.oneindia.in/2006/05/19/mmrda-and-bmc-to-remove-silt-from-mithi-bankshc1148049513.html.
15
L.S. Vhatkar 2013, director (ES&P), MCGM, October 3, personal communication.
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
467
between MCGM and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA), both of which are responsible for desilting the river and depositing the
silt at Kanjurmarg and Mulund dumping grounds. For instance, in May this year,
politician and activist Kirit Somaiya filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court alleging
that the removed silt was being dumped along the river and would be washed back
into the river.
14
According to Vhatkar, as of October 2013, Mithi river has been desilted until the
lakes, from where the river starts its journey. It has also been widened wherever
land was available on the sides of the river. However, questions are being raised on
the efficacy of desilting operations. “Both Kanjurmarg and Mulund dumping
grounds are not scientific landfills. They are not in accordance with the municipal
solid waste management rules and are a major cause of environmental pollution ….
As far as adaptation strategies are concerned, the government lacks holistic
approach. In order to solve one problem, it ends up creating few more,” said Rishi
Aggarwal, a civic activist and member of Observer Research Foundation
(ORF) Mumbai.
Apart from desilting, the corporation is also widening the existing nullahs. The
length of major nullahs across Mumbai is 340 km. A large number of nullahs are at
present 3 m wide. These are being widened as per the available space. In the island
city, the underground arch drains are over 100 years old and were built by the
British. These are 8 × 4 m wide and run 10 feet below the ground surface. “There
is not much scope to widen the underground arch drains …. A total of 30 km arch
drains had to be rehabilitated. We have already completed 20 km stretch. The rest
10 km will be done by May-June 2014,” assured Vhatkar.
15 This is expected to take
care of drainage of excess water from the island city.
In case of the suburbs, there are only open drains and no underground drains.
Thus, there is a scope for widening these drains. Chitale committee report had
recommended widening of 4 m drains to at least 6 m. According to Vhatkar, these
open drains are being widened. In some places, there is no scope for widening
because of heavy construction along the drains. The corporation is digging additional drains in such areas.
Drains that have less than 1.5 m width are called minor nullahs and fall under
the local ward offices’ jurisdiction. These drains are 200 km in length. Apart from
major and minor drains, Mumbai also has road side drains that run for 2000 km.
These are also being desilted and widened by the corporation.
14
http://news.oneindia.in/2006/05/19/mmrda-and-bmc-to-remove-silt-from-mithi-bankshc1148049513.html.
15
L.S. Vhatkar 2013, director (ES&P), MCGM, October 3, personal communication.
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
467