Introduction

We have seen the effects of nature through the intense rain and floods and destruction caused on July 26 and later in Mumbai. What is the reason behind all this? We seem to have lost all respect for nature. And when that happens we have to be ready to bear the consequences. It took a July 26 for us to become aware of the Mithi River. Let us use this Power Point Presentation to become aware of the implications which the Mithi River has for Mumbai? (The Power Point CD with colour photographs is available at the DCC).

Slide 1: Let us start by examining some key facts about the Mithi River. The first point which we need to remember is that the Mithi river’s catchment area covers about ¾ ths of Mumbai, right from the Borivli National Park in the North to Dadar TT in the South. The Mangroves along the path of the Mithi river, especially at the Mahim Creek, act as natural lungs for the city. They are part of the natural ecology which is biological in nature, and cannot be uprooted and substituted with artificial gardens. The Mithi river is continuously flushing out the waste into the sea acting as a drainage right through the year, and this cannot be obstructed in any way. The area around the Mithi River near the Mahim Creek is a designated forest area and bird sanctuary. In fact more than 225 types of birds were earlier sighted here on a regular basis, but today very few of those migratory species are seen. This photograph shows a solitary bird in the so called bird sanctuary.

Slide 2: The Mithi River acts as a confluence of the tail water of the Vihar, Powai and Tulsi lakes and thereby becomes a natural absorber of any excessively collected water in the lakes. The Mahim Creek, which needs to be looked at simultaneously, also plays a very critical role in controlling the flooding of the city. It acts as a natural regulatory mechanism, specially when the Mithi River swells during the monsoons. It thereby indirectly acts as a stabilizing force for the shoreline of Mumbai, provided it is not obstructed in any way.

Slide 3: Because of our total disregard for the significance of the Mithi River and our avaricious greed for destroying open spaces for profit, we have the dubious distinction of bringing this city of ours to near destruction. As per the IPCC reports on climate change, Mumbai is a threatened costal city.

Slide 4: Let us examine how the various obstructions we have put along the path of the Mithi river, have created a very hazardous situation. The Mithi River has been abused and exploited: Debris has been dumped into it. Bunds have been built to change the course of the river. In fact the course of the Mithi River has been forced to turn 90 degrees, four times in the recent past. There are innumerable encroachments along the banks of the Mithi River, and to top it all, its mouth has been reduced by a shocking 60%, blocking its flow and reducing its drainage capacity.

Slide 5: We don’t seem to understand at all the workings of nature. The Airport authorities are attempting to extend the runway. But to do this they have thought it fit to treat the Mithi River like a gutter which they can guide into an artificial underground tunnel. And to do this they have built a pile of debris and mud at Jeri Meri, in order to force the Mithi River into this underground tunnel. And they seem certain that they will achieve this impossible task at no cost to Mumbai and to life. How Naive !!!

Slide 6: The Mithi River has also been forced to flow under an attempted extension of the Santacruz runway near Kalpana theatre. Not only that, the Airports Authority has constructed walls which obstructed the Mithi River and caused floods to occur in the Kurla Bail-Bazar area. Prior to this, never in history has this area experienced floods. In fact the Bandra Kurla complex reclamation has only exacerbated this phenomenon of floods in this area.

Slide 7: Walls have been constructed at the end of the road between Air India and Indian Airlines colonies by the Airports Authority of India. These walls prevent the rain water which comes down from the Kalina hill from flowing further.

Slide 8: Between 1994 – 1996 the G-Block of the Bandra - Kurla complex was reclaimed. This is a blatant violation of CRZ91. About 250 acres out of the total of 730 acres of wetland with jungle that have been reclaimed fall in the G-Block of the Bandra - Kurla complex. The implications are that after Kalina the main river joins the Mahim Creek. Therefore the mouth of the river or estuary has been reclaimed for the Bandra - Kurla complex.

Slide 9: Not only that but the gap between the coffer dam walls which are located on the West of Mahim Causeway were narrowed for the Marine Outfall Project by M.C.G. M. So the outflow of the Mahim Creek has been restricted. Consequently in 1996 severe floods were experienced in the Kurla. Kalina, Sion and Matunga Areas.

Slide 10: The National Stock Exchange and surrounding buildings, that form a part of the G-Block of the Bandra - Kurla complex, have been built on the original course of the Mithi River.

Slide 11: In the E-Block of the Bandra - Kurla Complex the M.M.R.D A. (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) has built its head office on the course of the Mithi River.

Slide 12: The M.M.R.D.A. has adopted a process of ‘Channelisation’ whereby the original course of the river is changed artificially through the creation of bunds on the river’s sides. The part of the Mithi river that flows into the Mahim Creek has been suppressed through its reclamation. As a result there is no natural mixing of river with sea, which is a basic characteristic of any ‘Estuary’. This amply proves the attitude of treating the Mithi river as a gutter. N.E.E.R.I has strongly objected to the reclamation as well as the ‘Channelisation’ program. They had warned about heavy floods in the surrounding areas. The National Institute of Oceanography’s chief scientist Dr. A.G. Untwale had urged MMRDA to stop channelisation and remove the bunds.

Slide 13: The Worli-Bandra sea link project has reclaimed unnecessary land and has consequently not only obstructed the exit of the river into the creek but also the entering of the sea into the creek during high tide. As a result the high tide is damaging the buildings on the shoreline of Mahim, Dadar, Shivaji Park and Versova. Fishermen too have been displaced.

Slide 14: Twice everyday the high tide moves several kilometers into the city through the storm water drains. Saline water intrusion is taking place at a very high level. This is proved by the corrosion and repairs of the Tansa pipeline. Because of the pressure of the sea, the storm water drains cannot flush the system effectively. The flushing of the Mahim Creek has almost stopped. The silt caused by chemicals, heavy metals, sewage and other pollutants accumulated in the Bay and Creek, are causing the estuary to be raised, thus further increasing the flooding, The Worli - Bandra Sea link reclamation began in August 1999 and on the 11th, 12th and 13th of August 2000 there was heavy flooding. The near coastal regions of Mumbai got flooded for the first time.

Slide 15: This project was opposed and rejected by the government’s own studies. The following reports clearly bring this out: The K.G. Parapjpe Committee (former Chief Secretary 1987). The Central Institute of Fishery Education, 1992. The mangrove Committee (Maharashtra Government) 1993. NEERI, 1994-96 Ministry of environment and Forests. Reports made by B.N.H.S. 1997. The recommendation of this report was that the Mahim Mangrove Jungle be declared as a protected forest for in-city conservation. In spite of all these, reports the reclamation was not halted. We have and are still going to pay the cost for this foolhardiness.

Slide 16: On the river there are various encroachments which have taken place, whether they are industries whose effluents are dumped into the river, or constructions on the banks or on reclaimed land which block the flow of the river. The Mithi river is being used more as a gutter than as a river needed for the ecological balance of Mumbai.

Slide 17: The consequences of our callousness is for all of us to see. The run-off coefficient is no longer favourable. Open spaces have decreased rapidly. And the high tide is playing havoc with the shoreline of Mumbai.

Slide 18: The assumption at the inception of the Development plan of Mumbai in 1964 was that half of the rainfall would be absorbed by the soil. In technical terms the run-off coefficient would be 0.5. But for the last 7 years the Environment Status Report of the M.C.G.M. has registered a run-off coefficient of 1.0. We are concretizing practically all our open spaces.

Slide 19: The International Standard for open space in cities is 4 acres per 1000 persons. The Development Plan Report of the M.C.G.M. expected that at least 0.5 acres per 1000 persons would be achieved in the future. But the 1991 report concluded that today there is only.’03) acres of open space per 1000 persons. After 1991 many more so called developmental projects have been undertaken. And the floods around the Mahim Creek area in Kalina, Kurla. Santa Cruz, Bandra and Khar - Saki Naka continue year after year.

Slide 20: After this tortuous journey which is pretty depressing we need to reflect on the million dollar question of ‘What Next?’

Slide 21: We need to realize the seriousness of our situation on the 26th of July. We need to demand the Preservation of Mumbai and that the authorities see reason and desilt the river, remove encroachments, widen the mouth of the Mahim creek, preserve the mangroves, stop unnecessary construction and control the open spaces, and step treating the Mithi River like a gutter.

Slide 22: We need to ask ourselves whether we want to destroy Mumbai or preserve it. The choice is ours.