BMC approves 6.7 km tunnel to check Mithi river pollution

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) standing committee approved the Rs 603.4 crore project for the construction of 6.7 km tunnels to prevent the discharge of raw sewage and wastewater into the Mithi river in Mumbai. The proposal was held back without any discussion in the BMC standing committee meeting last week. On Wednesday, the proposal was tabled once again before the standing committee and was approved. The Rs 603.4 crore project for the tunnel's construction will help prevent pollution in the Mithi river, which has been facing sewage discharge and wastewater from industries and slums that have come up along the river bank over the past several years. The 6.7 km tunnel construction from Bapat nullah and Safed Pool nullah up to the proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) at Dharavi, is expected to be finished in 48 months, as per the proposal. While the tunnel, which is being constructed from Bapat nullah will have a 78 million liter capacity of sewage collection, the Safed Pool nullah will have the capacity to collect 90 million liter of sewage daily. The tunnel will pass 20 to 25 metres below the ground. The project will need environmental clearance as some tunnel portions will pass by mangrove areas. The contractor will be liable for obtaining environmental clearance, officials said. Image Source Also read: BMC to bring waste picker bodies for garbage segregation