Abvp to take up the task of cleaning mithi river

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliate ABVP has chalked out an ambitious plan to clean and rejuvenate the heavily polluted Mithi river. Experts with various domain knowledge and

students from colleges across Mumbai are being brought together to execute the project which has various dimensions. After a clean sweep in Delhi University Students Union elections and

occupying a post at left-bastion Jawaharlal Nehru University, the right-wing students body — Akhil Bhartiya Vidrathi Parishad (ABVP) — has now focussed its eyes on Mumbai where it has a

limited presence. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliate ABVP has chalked out an ambitious plan to clean and rejuvenate the heavily polluted Mithi river. Experts with various domain

knowledge and students from colleges across Mumbai are being brought together to execute the project which has various dimensions. The plan is expected to be rolled out at ABVP's 50th

annual conference in Mumbai slated for December 24 to 26 at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The conference will see presence of some high profile dignitaries, including defence minister

Manohar Parrikar — who will inaugurate the conference — and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis and Parrikar had been members of the ABVP and RSS during their youth days. Yadunath

Deshpande, joint organizing secretary of Maharashtra wing of ABVP, said: "The mapping of the river will start next year which will identify all entry points to this river. A

comprehensive strategy to stop the toxic inflow from these points will then be taken." The17.8 km-long Mithi river originates from the overflow of both Vihar and Powai lakes. It flows

for around 17.8 km through Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim before it meets the Arabian Sea at the Mahim Creek. The river is supposed to serve

as a natural drainage channel that carries excess water during monsoons. In October 2013, the Nation Green Tribunal had ordered all 239 'polluting' industries on the banks to be

shut. It originates from the overflow of both Vihar and Powai lakes. In June this year, level of water in the Mithi river, choked by effluents from illegal, small industries that have come

up along the CST road in Kurla and other areas along the banks, rose to 4.5 metre just 0.2 metre below the 'danger mark'. The Mithi project is part of the ABVP's larger plans

for Mumbai's transformation, said Deshpande. The union is working on novel solutions to address perennial traffic woes of the city and women safety. Apart from Mithi river, other

resolutions which are expected to be taken under the "cleaner, smarter and caring Mumbai" at the conference are toilets for women, slum rehabilitation and basic amenities,

cleanliness of beaches, waste segregation and disposal, and late results of Mumbai University.