Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday inaugurated Phase 1 of the Dahisar River Rejuvenation and Beautification Project in Mumbai, emphasizing that the sewage treatment plant (STP) model developed along the river should serve as a role model for the entire country.
Minister's Call for Citizen Participation
Speaking at the inauguration in Dahisar, Goyal stressed that cleaning rivers cannot be achieved by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) alone. He urged citizens to stop dumping garbage into water bodies. 'The movement to clean the Dahisar river will succeed only when citizens stop throwing waste into the river,' he said.
Project Details and Scope
The minister noted that the project aligns with the Centre's efforts to rejuvenate 350 rivers across India. He highlighted the Dahisar riverfront's potential to become a tourism and recreation hub in the future. Goyal also called for desilting, deepening of the river channel, and revival of natural water springs along the stretch.
According to civic officials, Phase 1 includes two fully automated sewage treatment plants using membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology: a 1.5 MLD plant at Sukurwadi in Borivli East and a 5 MLD plant at Indiranagar in Dahisar West. Treated water will be used for non-potable purposes such as road cleaning, gardening, construction, and vehicle washing. The project aims to improve a 4.75-km stretch of the river and includes construction of 4.4 km of sewer lines, interceptors to divert sewage flow, and development of service roads along the river. Authorities expect the project to significantly reduce sewage discharge into the river and improve environmental conditions in surrounding areas.
Flood Mitigation and Garbage Removal
Goyal also stated that the project would help mitigate flooding during the monsoon and urged elected representatives to ensure regular garbage removal from the river through the civic machinery.
Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi appealed to citizens not to litter the river and called for action against habitual offenders dumping waste into water bodies. Local MLA Manisha Chaudhary said the rehabilitation process for project-affected persons would be accelerated, adding that 1,244 affected families would be provided housing under the project.
