The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday said that 82.31 per cent of its targeted pre-monsoon silt removal has been completed. The Mumbai civic body had set a target to extract a total of 9,68,008 metric tonnes of silt before the onset of monsoon this year. Approximately 7,96,765 metric tonnes of silt have been removed till from Mumbai’s rivers and stormwater drains till Wednesday morning.

This also includes the Mithi River. BMC has set a target of clearing 2,14,315 metric tonnes from Mithi River, of which it has achieved 1,32,545 metric tonnes or 61.85 per cent. In a press release on Wednesday, the civic body said the desilting of Mithi River has been delayed owing to unforeseen challenges but it is confident of completing the work using additional resources.

The civic body has integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the desilting work to enhance transparency and efficiency. The use of AI surveillance has led to fines exceeding Rs 3 crore being levied on contractors for non-compliance, according to BMC officials. The desilting operations will continue during and after the monsoon season.