September 18, 2025: In a move to tackle the persistent problem of waste dumping in Mumbai’s nullahs and rivers, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a new public awareness campaign. As part of a pilot initiative, a cleanliness drive will be undertaken at the Vakola River, with participation from local residents, solid waste management (SWM) experts, and non-governmental organisations. The effort aims not only to clean the river but also to encourage responsible waste disposal practices.
The announcement was made by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar during a workshop held at the MIG Club in Bandra on Wednesday. The session was organised jointly by BMC’s ‘H East’ ward, the World Resources Institute India (WRI), and various NGOs working in SWM, under the theme “Journey Towards Community Participation for Waste Management in Mumbai.”
The workshop featured discussions on waste segregation, citizen awareness, and ways to keep the Mithi River and Vakola nullah free of garbage. Dighavkar noted that the pilot at Vakola would later be expanded to cover all rivers and nullahs across Mumbai.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Mrudula Ande, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of H East Ward, said: “Our staff are working tirelessly, but open dumping in densely populated areas remains a major issue. The ward alone collects nearly 300 tonnes of waste daily.” She suggested designated collection days for dry, wet and electronic waste to improve segregation at source.
Experts stressed that Mumbai’s rivers continue to suffer due to indiscriminate dumping from residential, commercial and informal settlements, contributing to flooding and environmental degradation. They underlined that community participation, proper segregation and disciplined disposal in designated bins are essential for lasting change.
The event was attended by senior BMC officials, NGO representatives, academics and activists, all calling for collective action to keep Mumbai clean.
Source: The Free Press Journal
