Five years after the concept and more than two years after a contractor was appointed, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ambitious project to revive the Poisar river received environmental clearance on Tuesday.
“Clearances have come from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Mangrove Cell, and Coastal Zone Management Authority. As the contractor has been appointed, construction of the STP (Stone Processing Plant) will begin immediately. However, due to changes in market forces in the last two years, there may be cost escalation. Can,’ said a civic official.
The Poisar River, which was once a freshwater urban stream, originates in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and flows through the western suburbs of Mumbai to Marv Creek. However, with changes in demographics over the past 10 years, the river has become polluted mainly due to residential and industrial discharges. The sewage directly mixes with the river water.
Consequently, in 2019, the civic authorities came up with a proposal to revive the river by setting up 10 mini STPs at various points along its banks to treat and reuse sewage. Each of these STPs will have a capacity to treat 33 megaliters per day (MLD) of sewage. In the proposal, it is also proposed to widen the banks of the river to ensure smooth flow of water and to construct a service road along the river.
Poisar River Rejuvenation Project at a cost of Rs 1,192 crore requires removal of encroachments from the banks and according to civic officials, 250 encroachers have been identified so far who will be provided with alternative accommodation.
Along with this, the BMC will spend Rs 246 crore on rejuvenating the Dahisar river located at the extreme northern end of Mumbai’s western suburbs. At present the river has a varying width of 35-40 meters and the civic authorities have constructed a wall.
The Madhava Chittale Committee, which was formed after the July 2005 flood, recommended the river revitalization project. The idea behind this project is to provide Mumbai with an enhanced drainage network that will lead to smooth drainage of water and silt during monsoons.
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