Mumbai: BMC misses Mithi river desilting deadline, assures completion by June 10 ahead of monsoon

Desilting work underway on the Mithi river during the pre-monsoon clean-up drive (Pic/Shadab Khan)

Despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) missing its May 31 pre-monsoon deadline for desilting the Mithi river, Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar has assured that remaining work will be completed by June 10.

While the BMC has achieved 100 per cent desilting targets for all major and minor nullahs across the city, only 70 per cent of the Mithi river desilting work had been completed as of May 31, according to the civic body's desilting dashboard. Overall, the civic body has completed 94 per cent of its citywide desilting target ahead of the monsoon.

Desilting work underway on the Mithi river during the pre-monsoon clean-up drive. The BMC has completed around 70% of the river's desilting work and aims to finish the remaining work by June 10. File Pic/Shadab Khan

Why the Mithi river matters

The 18-km-long Mithi river originates from Vihar Lake inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flows into the Arabian Sea near Mahim Causeway. The river is considered one of Mumbai's most critical drainage channels during the monsoon.

Flood-prone areas along the river

>> Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC)
>> Kurla
>> Sakinaka
>> Andheri
>> Marol
>> Santacruz
>> Dharavi
>> Mahim

As per officials where is the work still pending?
>> Kurla
>> BKC
>> Dharavi
>> Parts of L ward

Monsoon countdown

BMC deadline
May 31, 2026

Revised Mithi completion target
June 10, 2026

IMD's expected monsoon arrival in Mumbai
Around June 10, 2026

Rainfall outlook

Average seasonal rainfall in Mumbai
Around 2200 mm

IMD forecast for 2026
Southwest monsoon likely at 90 per cent of the long-period average

Expected trend
Slightly below-normal rainfall