BMC Secures Clearances For ₹1,192 Crore Poisar River Rejuvenation Project; Delays May Escalate Costs

The BMC has finally received the necessary clearances for its ambitious Poisar River rejuvenation project, awarded two years ago. The required approvals have been granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Mangrove Cell, and the Coastal Zone Management Authority. However, the delay in the project may lead to an increase in its overall cost, said civic sources. 

The Poisar River originates from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Malad East and flows through Kandivali, eventually meeting Malad Creek in Malad West. The total length of the river within the BMC jurisdiction is approximately 9.290 kilometers. Over time, the river became highly polluted due to the direct discharge of residential and industrial sewage into its waters. The Madhav Chitale Committee, formed after the 2005 Mumbai floods, recommended an upgraded drainage network to ensure the smooth flow of water and silt during the monsoon, reducing the risk of flooding.

Accordingly, the civic Storm Water Department (SWD) has undertaken various measures to reduce flooding in areas surrounding the Poisar River. Additionally, a rejuvenation and beautification project has been initiated in compliance with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. In 2019, the BMC issued a tender for the rejuvenation of the Poisar River, which includes the construction of 10 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), each with a capacity to treat 33 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage. The project will also include 15 years of operation and maintenance for these plants. Other key aspects of the proposal involve the laying of sewer lines, construction of a service road, building roadside drains, and the creation of 13 interceptors to manage wastewater flow. The plan also includes widening the banks of the river to ensure smooth water flow and constructing a service road along the riverbank.

“We will begin work on setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) immediately, as the required clearances have been obtained and the work order has already been issued. However, we will also have to address the encroachments affecting the sewer network and access roads to three STPs in Malad and Kandivali, with 2,267 hutments impacting the area,” said a senior civic official. As part of the Rs 1,192 crore Poisar River rejuvenation project, 250 encroachers have been identified for relocation. Additionally, the BMC plans to spend Rs 246 crore to rejuvenate Dahisar River, which has a width of 35-40 meters, with a retaining wall already built to improve its condition.