Locals to move court against concretisation

Mumbai: River March, a citizens group working towards rejuvenating the four rivers of Mumbai- Poisar, Oshiwara, Mithi and Dahisar, has decided to move court against the concretising the rivers’ sides and base.

The group stated that constructing retaining walls and concretising the river bed is not the right solution for reviving the city’s rivers but in turn would affect its natural landscape and lead to more flooding.

Gopal Jhaveri, member of the River March citizens group stated that the group has suggested that the state government and the BMC that concretisation could lead to destruction of natural vegetation of the rivers. “Nowhere in the Chitale committee report it is written that the civic bodies have to construct retaining walls to rejuvenate the rivers. It has directed to look for alternatives and the civic body is coming up with a wrong one. If the river bed is concretised which is being done in Dahisar and Poisar now, where will the rain water percolate?” said Gopal Jhaveri, member of River March.

In the aftermath of Mumbai floods of 2005, a committee headed by water expert Madhav Chitale prepared a report to prevent flooding incidents in Mumbai which was approved by the state government.

River March had earlier approached various concerned authorities raising concerns over the ongoing concretisation work in the city’s rivers. “We have held talks with the BMC, State Govern-ment, however nothing has been done so far and the construction work of retaining walls are going on in full spree even now. This leaves us no other option than to move court,” added Mr. Jhaveri.

“By concretising rivers inside the forest, the authorities are turning  our forests into dry lands and rivers into sewage drains,” said Stalin Dayanand, project director, Vanashakti.