Mumbai: BMC Plans ₹1.79-Crore Steel Nets Along Vakola River To Curb Garbage Dumping

Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to erect steel nets along a stretch of the Vakola River in a bid to curb the city’s rampant garbage dumping problem. This follows the successful implementation of similar nets at vulnerable locations in recent years. The Vakola River, adjacent to the Dnyaneshwar slum settlement, has been heavily polluted by indiscriminate waste disposal, often resembling a drain.

Complaints about floating waste choking the river have been mounting, prompting the BMC to take action. A proposal submitted to the Standing Committee for approval outlines the construction of a garbage-trapping net along the retaining wall of the Vakola River, as directed by MLA Varun Sardesai. The project, estimated at Rs 1.79 crore, seeks to prevent solid waste from entering the waterway entirely.

The BMC has previously seen success with steel nets installed at Main Avenue Nullah and South Avenue Nullah, which significantly reduced garbage dumping in those areas. Now, they are hoping to replicate this success at Vakola. The initiative also targets the dumping of bulky waste, such as furniture, cupboards, and sofas, particularly in slum areas.

In December 2023, the Storm Water Department (SWD) introduced steel nets at P&T Colony in Bandra West, with positive results. This pilot program was then expanded to other vulnerable nullahs near slums and chawls. Mumbai faces a massive challenge in maintaining its waterways’ cleanliness, with 309 major and 1,508 minor nullahs requiring constant attention from the BMC.