Desiltation work at Mithi river tardy: Somaiya

Mumbai, Jun 4: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya expressed unhappiness with the desiltation work at the Mithi river and said the entire activity was done in a tardy manner.

"I have found a whole lack-lustre program on desiltation of Mithi river and I could not see any protection system anywhere. There was supposed to be a permanent chowky, police personnel and the private security system throughout the year at the Mithi river but nothing has been executed," he told PTI.

"Periodically Mumbai receives heavy rains. If that type of rain comes then once again Mumbai will be under 1-3 feet of water. I will not say 2005 deluge like situation will occur as it happens once in a century," the former MP added.

Recently, Somaiya had alleged that the MMRDA is dumping silt on the banks of the river instead of transporting it to a dumping ground.

Meanwhile, MMRDA denied the allegations and said that they had completed the desiltation work of Mithi river.

"We have completed the desiltation work coming under our jurisdiction (Mahim-Causeway to CST road and Vakola nullah ).

We have also completed widening of the river as per the recommendations of CWPRA and government norms," MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar told PTI.

"Our experience is that since last 2-3 years there are no incidences of water-logging because of widening and deepening.

We have also transported the silt to the dumping ground and there is no silt left on the banks of the river," he said.

PTI