Mithi ranks number 1 in terms of sewage

Mumbai: The Mithi river still remains among the most polluted rivers in the state, in terms of sewage generated in rivers. It is in top position in Maharashtra with 2,772 million litre sewage per day, as per a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The 2017 CPCB report was submitted in the Bombay high court on Monday while hearing a petition seeking river rejuvenation policy in Maharashtra. The capacity for sewage treatment plant across Mithi River is 2600.9 MLD. Mithi has the dubious distinction of being the third river in the country in terms of sewage generation, after Yamuna (second position) and Ganga (first position).   

However, the report also shows that most of Mithi’s sewage gets treated unlike in the cases of Ganga and Yamuna. The report contained data of more than 60 rivers across India with the amount of sewage generated in it. The number of polluted river stretches across Maharashtra has also increased from 49 in 2015 to 56 in 2017.

After Mithi, the other rivers in the state that are reeling with sewage pollution is Ghod, Ghod-avari, Chandrabhaga, Indrayani, Pelhar and Ulhas rivers among others.

MPCB has stated that the ‘priority 1’ rivers which were considered as ‘highly polluted’ based on the biochemical oxygen demand level and needed immediate attention have been reduced from 4 in 2015 to 1 in 2018, which indicates that the water quality at severely polluted river is improving.