With the monsoon season already making an early entry this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed 82.31% of its targeted pre-monsoon silt removal from the city’s major and minor drains. Of the planned 9.68 lakh metric tonnes of silt to be cleared across Mumbai, 7.96 lakh metric tonnes have been removed as of June 4, 2025.
The annual exercise, led by the civic body’s Storm Water Drains Department, is critical to ensuring smooth drainage and flood mitigation during heavy rains. This year, the work was initiated in March and has continued despite early and record-breaking rainfall recorded in May. While major drain desilting has been completed, work continues on minor drains and the Mithi River, where 61.85% of the target has been achieved so far.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been deployed to enhance monitoring and accountability in the desilting process. Video footage and CCTV images before and after silt removal are being analysed using AI tools. This system has not only ensured greater transparency but has also led to fines of over Rs 3 crore on defaulting contractors.
According to official data:
- 3.78 lakh metric tonnes of silt have been removed from large drains, exceeding the target of 3.57 lakh metric tonnes (105.81%).
- 2.86 lakh metric tonnes have been removed from small drains against a target of 3.96 lakh metric tonnes (72.18%).
- 1.32 lakh metric tonnes of silt have been removed from the Mithi River, out of the 2.14 lakh metric tonnes target (61.85%).
To meet the remaining targets, additional machinery and manpower have been deployed, especially around the Mithi River, where efforts are being made to improve the river’s cleanliness and water-carrying capacity. The BMC has confirmed that silt removal will continue during and even after the monsoon season to ensure sustained effectiveness of the city’s drainage infrastructure.
Source: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
