Complete Mithi river project phase-I in 3 weeks, HC tells MRDPA

Mumbai, June 7 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Mithi River Development Project Authority (MRDPA) along with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to complete the pending work of widening and desilting of the Mithi river and dumping of the silt and debris, within three weeks.

A division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and A S Bagga directed the MMRDA and MCGM to complete the pending work in response to a petition filed by activist and politician Dr Kirit Somaiya regarding the developments required along the Mithi river and dumping of the silt and debris on the mangroves in the city.

Advocate Janak Dwarkadas, arguing on behalf of the petitioner, contended the court that while the MRDPA and MCGM were to complete the Phase-I of the project by June 5, more than 50 per cent work of desilting, widening and removal of debris is still pending in areas from airport to CST Road and CST Road to Bandra-Kurla Complex and near the mouth of the river from SV Road to Kalanagar.

Advocate General Ravi Kadam, submitted that the pending work was in progress. However, it was delayed as the scrap-dealers were removed from the area near the airport only after May 17. Also, fresh encroachments had sprung up in other places, which would have to be removed with the help of the police. Thus there was a need to prevent further encroachments from coming up, which would be taken care of by the MMRDA and the MCGM.

The final report submitted by the MRDPA, however, stated that more than 93 per cent of the work including the widening, deepening, desilting and removal of debris had been completed. It stated that more than 2,577 Project Affected Households had been rehabilitated by the MMRDA and 3,984 by the MCGM in the Tunga Village and Mandale.

There were also 522 new structures identified by the authorities that would have to be removed and rehabilitated for the work of the river development to be effective.

The second phase of the project will commence in October.

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