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| Mithi River | |
|---|---|
 Mithi River At Filter Pada | |
 The Mithi river is in the centre | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Mumbai Suburban |
| City | Mumbai |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Vihar Lake |
| 2nd source | Powai Lake |
| • location | Aarey Colony, Goregaon (E) |
| 3rd source | Vakola Creek |
| • location | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport |
| Mouth | Arabian Sea |
• location | Mahim Creek |
| Length | 18 km (11 mi)[1] |
TheMithi River (Pronunciation:[miʈʰiː]) is a river onSalsette Island, the island of the city ofMumbai, India. It is a confluence oftail-waterdischarges of thePowai andVihar lakes. The river is seasonal and rises during themonsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river flow, which is stopped by a dam at other times. During this season, the gutter is a favourite withanglers, who can catch large fish that have escaped from the lakes[citation needed].Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is located right next to the section of river atAndheri (E).
The river originates from the overflow ofVihar Lake and also receives the overflows from thePowai Lake about 2 km later. It flows for a total of 18 km before it meets theArabian Sea atMahim Creek flowing through residential and industrial complexes of Powai,Saki Naka,Kurla,Kalina,Vakola,Bandra Kurla Complex,Dharavi andMahim.The river has an average width of 5 metres in the upper reaches, has been widened to 25 m in the middle reaches and up to 70 m in the lower reaches after 26 July 2005 deluge (944 mm in 24 h on 26 July 2005).[citation needed]
The river has been polluted by dumping of rawsewage,industrial waste andmunicipal waste into the river. Besides this, illegal activities like washing vessels, animals and oily drums, discharge of unauthorisedhazardous waste are also carried out along the course of this river. Cattle sheds in some areas contribute animal waste. Barrel cleaners, scrap dealers and others dumpsludge oil, effluent and garbage in the river. The organic waste, sludge and garbage dumping has reduced thecarrying capacity of the river. The water with mixture of sewage and industrial waste is a threat to marine life. The river bed is full of sludge, garbage and vegetation growth likewater hyacinth in many parts.[2]
The city of Mumbai earned theepithet – 'Cottonopolis of India' due to its vibrant cottontextile mills. The mills over the years have utilized water from this river and dumped their waste into it leading to the present polluted state of the river.
TheMunicipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has undertaken a cleanliness drive lately[when?] so that thefloods of 26 July 2005 are not repeated. An environmental group has been formed byRajendra Singh, an award-winning conservationist in 2009. TheBMC has been able to remove just 267,000 cubic metres so far, or 60% of what is required.[3] It aims to revive the dying river and the entire operation at Mithi will be done through solar power in an attempt to stay energy neutral. Recently environmentalist Afroz Shah has launched campaigns with the local citizens of Mumbai to clean the Mithi river, to much success.
Many young entrepreneurs in and around Mumbai are now aggressively involved with raising awareness of the degradation of the Mithi River, and creating awareness on a global scale as the government of India has again began to ignore this extremely important issue.[4]In 2009, environmentalist and Magsaysay Award winner,Rajendra Singh lead ayatra, of a group of environmentalist and NGOs, throughMumbai city along the degraded Mithi river to highlight its problems.[5]
A Contemporary Art show was also held in 2009 to increase awareness of the dire situation of the Mithi River in Bombay byChintan Upadhyay titled Khatti – Mithi.[6]
