Beat report: Mumbai's Mithi river isn't dirty, it's a system in decay

With no contractors stepping forward to clean the Mithi river and the monsoon fast approaching, Mumbai faces rising flood risks, exposing systemic failures, administrative gaps and public neglect that continue to leave the city vulnerable year after year.

What I’m witnessing on the ground in Mumbai is not just the plight of a river — it’s the stark failure of an entire system. Even before the monsoon is yet to arrive, a sense of danger hangs heavy over the city. The reason? Not a single contractor has come forward to take up the cleaning of the Mithi river.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) floated tenders and even extended the deadline to March 24, but the response remains nil. Officials now say the civic body may take up the work on its own. But standing here, the question is obvious: can the BMC really handle a task of this scale alone?

For years, this work has been outsourced to contractors. But, a recent scam has shaken the credibility of the entire process. Cases have been filed against both contractors and officials, and perhaps that explains why no one is willing to step in at this time.

As I stand next to the Mithi river, it feels less like a water body and more like a silent witness to years of neglect. This 18-kilometre stretch - from Kalina to Mahim Bay - is today choked with garbage, sludge and water hyacinth.

The Mithi river acts as a crucial natural drain for stormwater originating from Vihar and Powai lakes and discharges into the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek.

When I reached Kurla, the sight was disturbing. The riverbanks had turned into dumping grounds. People were openly throwing household waste into the river. Crores are reportedly spent on cleaning this river every year, yet on the ground, there is little to show for it. We walked nearly 3-4 kilometres along the stretch, and at every turn, the story was the same.