River pollution: HC directs MMRDA, MCGM to take remedial measures

Court raises concern about the problems of floods due to the ‘inaction’ of concerned authorities

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Mumbai Mteropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to take immediate remedial measures for dealing with the rising pollution in city’s Mithi River.

The direction came from a division bench presided by Justice Vidyasagar Kanade and Justice Swapna Joshi, while hearing a public interest litigation, raising concerns about the problems of floods due to the ‘inaction’ of concerned authorities.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner informed the bench that after the 2005 deluge, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in its report stated that tonnes of raw sewage is dumped daily into the Meethi River. The report also stated that the ‘rampant’ dumping of sewage has reduced the depth of the river from 16 feet to seven feet.

The counsel told the bench, post the 2005 deluge, IIT in one of its report had suggested for installation of 37 Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) across the city in order to reduce the pollution.

“The MCGM did not accepted the proposal of IIT in the initial stage but later in 2014 accepted to install only six STP’s. It has been two years since then, the civic body has not yet called for the tenders of the six STP’s,” the counsel said. He also told the bench that as per the NEERI report, the Meethi River is becoming a ‘hub’ for harmful diseases like Dengue, Malaria and Chickungunya, etc.

After hearing this, the bench asked MMRDA if it could install some STP’s but the counsel appearing for the development authority cited ‘jurisdiction’ and said that it is the work of MCGM.

“This is a major issue, you both (MMRDA and MCGM) will have to sit together and solve it. You cannot fight with each other citing jurisdictions, especially when the situation is such dangerous,” the bench said.

“We direct both the authorities to undertake immediate remedial measures and ensure steps are taken to stop the further deterioration of the rivers,” the bench said.

“The authorities are also directed to consider if the reports of NEERI can be implemented,” the bench said while posting the matter on October 5.