The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation may claim it has finished 95% of the work on deepening and widening the Mithi river at a cost of Rs659.83 crore, but, point out environmentalists, nothing has been done to improve the health of the river. “The Mithi continues to be a sewer with illegal commercial units and slums on its banks releasing toxic chemical waste and domestic effluents. There has been no effort to stop pollution and restore the river,” said Janak Daftari of Jalbiradri, a non-government organisation (NGO). “Aarey is a catchment for the Mithi river, and a retaining wall has been needlessly built, which has stopped interaction between the river and the forest. Read moreIn pics: Mumbai civic body’s tall claims washed away by Mithi RiverNo contractors for desilting work, Mumbai civic body to clean minor nullahs, drains

Source: Hindustan Times March 27, 2017 03:33 UTC