MMRDA completes desilting of Mithi river

Mumbai, Oct 23 (UNI) In a significant move to prevent water logging in Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed the desilting of the Mithi river.

''In the second phase of widening and deepening of the Mithi river, 19 lakh cubic centimeters of debris has been removed in the second phase and the desilting of the Vakola river has also been completed'', said Mr Dilip Kawathkar, Joint Project Director (Public Relations).

The desilting of the Mithi River has increased the water flow tremendously with the draining capacity having doubled leading to no flooding during the monsoon this year.

In the first phase of the development works of the Mithi River which took place between March 2006 and June 2007, eight lakh cubic centimeters of debris was removed.

Soon after the July 26, 2005 deluge in Mumbai, the Central Water Power Research Station (CWPRS) was asked to submit recommendations to increase the flow of the Mithi river and also ensured that the no further deluges would take place. The CWPRS submitted their report in January 2006 and accordingly various development works were undertaken in two phases.

The first phase from March 2006 and June 2007 included widening, removing rocks, desilting etc while the second phase which is expected to be completed by June 2009 includes widening, rock blasting, construction of the security wall etc from Vakola nala to Mithi.

After the completion of the second phase, work on the construction of roads and beautification of its surroundings would be undertaken. Rs 25.76 crore has been spent in the first phase while Rs 96.35 crore has been spent so far in the second phase. The total cost of the project is Rs 300 crore.

The length of the Mithi river is 17.8 km. Apart from this there is two km long Vakola nalla. The MMRDA is involved in the development works of Mahim Causeway to Vakola nalla which is 6 km long while the remaining works is being carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, a MMRDA release said here today.

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