The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finalised a contractor for the first phase of the Mithi River Improvement Programme that is aimed at stopping the river’s pollution.
The first phase will consist of laying sewer lines in unsewered areas, and constructing a sewage treatment plant and pumping station. A proposal for the project, which will cost nearly ₹211 crore, will be placed before the standing committee on Wednesday. Following censure from the Bombay High Court, the BMC and State government are working towards rejuvenating the river. The process is being supervised by a Mithi Rejuvenation Authority consisting of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
As part of the first phase, the BMC has finalised a contractor to improve water quality in a 2-km stretch at Filterpada, Powai. The stretch has sewer outlets that directly open out into the river. These nullahs come from residential areas and contain large amounts of trash. The corporation will lay new interceptor sewer lines parallel to the Mithi running from Vihar lake to its water plant in Powai. The trash will be intercepted before entering the Mithi and directed into a sewage treatment plant.
“Here, the water will be treated as per CPCB standards before being let into the river again through a pumping station. Studies show that much of the river’s volume is made up of ingress from nullahs and only eight million litres is the natural flow from Vihar lake,” said Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Additional Municipal Commissioner, who is in charge of the project.
The BMC has finalised M/s Skyway Infraprojects Pvt Ltd for the job at a cost of ₹133 crore. It includes conceptualising, building, maintenance and laying new storm water drains in the area as well as maintenance for 15 years. Including taxes and cess, the project cost will go up to ₹211 crore. The sewer lines are expected to come up within 18 months of allotting the work order while pumping and sewage treatment plant will be completed within two years.
The BMC also wants to focus on beautification along the river, and plans to create green spaces that will be open to the public. The other phases will include intercepting every source of pollution into the Mithi and taking steps to prevent it. Phase II and III will require co-ordination with the planning authority, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
