Mithi is one of Mumbai’s oldest river systems. In a 2015 study, it was revealed that the river was made up of 100% sewage and no clean water. Until the 80s, the toxicity levels of the river was at its bare minimum. However, now, it has been abused and polluted to such an extent that it has transformed into a narrow drain.
After an intense clean-up drive in Mumbai’s Versova Beach, Afroz Shah has embarked on yet another mission to clean the city’s longest river – Mithi.
Week 165 .
Freeing @RiverMithi from plastic debris and water hyacinth.Then training people living on the banks to adopt #Circulareconomy– reduce waste and then monetize.Only way we know to love and hug River Mithi.Another beautiful Sunday dedicated to our country. pic.twitter.com/FfEa1IeWw0— Afroz shah (@AfrozShah1) December 16, 2018
In July 2015, the then Maharshtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam, declared that the river consisted of 93% domestic sewage and 7% industrial waste.
Once every year, the river floods, leaving the people of Mumbai knee-deep in toxic waste. Attempts have been made by the government to rectify the problem before rains, but due to an absence of a long term solution, their approach seems to be a band-aid solution at best.
However, after Afroz Shah’s recent feat, there seems to be a glimmer of hope of restitution for the river turned drain. He announced his new mission on Twitter, and said,
Week 161.#BeatPlasticPollution #Connectwithnature#Mithiriver
Tete with students from Thakur college of law – Need to hug nature as we hug our loved ones.Recce at the mouth of Mithi River – This river needs our hug.We intend to Hug it tight and long – New love – New date pic.twitter.com/JEm0bd7VJv— Afroz shah (@AfrozShah1) November 14, 2018
Talking to NDTV, Shah said,
The idea behind Mithi river cleanup is to create an army of people who love and value natural water bodies. I realised how bad the condition of Mithi river is when an Imam of a nearby mosque told me that 30 years ago, he used to use the water from the river as drinking water and now it has turned into a sewage.
Two weeks into his clean-up drive, Shah has received an overwhelming response, with volunteers pouring in to lend him a helping hand. According to NDTV, 25 volunteers have been helping him remove plastic, sewage, and other garbage from the river. In both the weeks, his team has cleared around 4 tons of garbage.
Week 162.#BeatPlasticPollution #CleanSeas #RiverMithi
Saturday – 24th Nov .Beach Cleanup – @danapaanibeach – 8 to 10 am .Sunday – 25th Nov .@RiverMithi – Cleanup , Rejuvenation , Circular Economy , Community development – 10 to 2 pm .Pls Join . pic.twitter.com/QDtfmnb2lA— Afroz shah (@AfrozShah1) November 22, 2018
The severity of the sitution can be gagued by the fact they have only managed to clear 300 meters of the 15 kilometer long river.
Afroz Shah has always been an advocate on making people responsible towards their surroundings. With the recent clean-up drive, he seeks to achieve the same.
He further, in his interview with NDTV, said,
Cleaning the water body is not enough, changing the mindset of the people is the need of the hour. There are nearly 5-6 million slum dwellers residing close to the river. On every visit, we will sensitise them to maintain cleanliness by telling them to reduce, reuse and recycle garbage.
Although Shah claims that restoring the river to its original pristine glory will take atleast 5 years, his efforts have given a wake-up jolt to a lot of unbothered people, calling them to do their part in the cleanup.
