Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, the Mumbai North-West lawmaker said the proposal has been formally placed on the floor of the Lower House. He flagged the deteriorating condition of the Mithi, Dahisar, Poisar, and Oshiwara rivers and said urgent intervention was needed
MP Ravindra Waikar said river pollution has led to serious public health concerns for people residing along the riverbanks. PIC X
Mumbai North-West Member of Parliament (MP) Ravindra Waikar on Tuesday urged the Centre to announce a special fund and comprehensive scheme for the pollution control and rejuvenation of Mumbai’s rivers on the lines of the ‘Namami Gange’ project, citing severe pollution and growing health risks for residents living along riverbanks.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, Waikar said the proposal has been formally placed on the floor of the House. He flagged the deteriorating condition of Mumbai’s four major rivers — the Mithi, Dahisar, Poisar, and Oshiwara — and said urgent intervention was needed to restore them.
In his submission, Waikar said the rivers, once lifelines of the city and key components of its natural drainage system, have been reduced to “large and hazardous open drains” due to unchecked urbanisation. He said the pollution has led to serious public health concerns for people residing along the riverbanks, while untreated wastewater flowing into the Arabian Sea has caused extensive damage to the marine ecosystem.
Budget Session 2026: Despite heavy spending, untreated sewage continues to pollute Mumbai rivers
The MP pointed to Versova beach as a stark example of environmental degradation caused by river pollution. He also highlighted that despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) spending around Rs 400 to Rs 600 crore annually on river cleaning and pre-monsoon desilting, the lack of adequate sewage treatment infrastructure continues to undermine these efforts.
Waikar said untreated sewage is still being discharged into the rivers due to insufficient and delayed sewage treatment plant (STP) projects, and called for faster implementation of modern and efficient STPs to address the problem. He also stressed the need to prioritise eco-restoration measures to conserve aquatic biodiversity.
Drawing a comparison with the Centre’s flagship ‘Namami Gange’ programme, Waikar urged the government to announce a ‘Special River Rejuvenation Package’ for Mumbai. He said scientific rejuvenation and beautification of the city’s rivers — on the lines of London’s River Thames — could give a fresh impetus to Mumbai’s tourism sector, similar to the boost seen after the development of the coastal road project.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
