Mithi River
River in Mumbai, India
title: "Mithi River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-mumbai"] description: "River in Mumbai, India" topic_path: "general/rivers-of-mumbai" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithi_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary River in Mumbai, India ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mithi River |
| name_etymology | |
| image | River Mithi 3.jpg |
| image_size | 300px |
| image_caption | Mithi River at Filter Pada |
| map | Geographybombay.png |
| map_caption | The Mithi river is in the centre |
| pushpin_map_caption | |
| subdivision_type1 | Country |
| subdivision_name1 | India |
| subdivision_type2 | State |
| subdivision_name2 | Maharashtra |
| subdivision_type4 | District |
| subdivision_name4 | Mumbai Suburban |
| subdivision_type5 | City |
| subdivision_name5 | Mumbai |
| length | |
| discharge1_max | |
| source1 | Vihar Lake |
| source2 | Powai Lake |
| source2_location | Aarey Colony, Goregaon (E) |
| mouth | Arabian Sea |
| mouth_location | Mahim Creek |
| source3 | Vakola Creek |
| source3_location | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport |
| :: |
| name = Mithi River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = River Mithi 3.jpg | image_size = 300px | image_caption = Mithi River at Filter Pada | map = Geographybombay.png | map_size = | map_caption = The Mithi river is in the centre | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = India | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Maharashtra | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = District | subdivision_name4 = Mumbai Suburban | subdivision_type5 = City | subdivision_name5 = Mumbai | length = 18 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = | source1 = Vihar Lake | source1_location = | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = | source2 = Powai Lake | source2_location = Aarey Colony, Goregaon (E) | source2_coordinates = | source2_elevation = | mouth = Arabian Sea | mouth_location = Mahim Creek | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = | source3 = Vakola Creek | source3_location = Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport The Mithi River (Pronunciation: [miʈʰiː]) is a river on Salsette Island, the island of the city of Mumbai, India. The Mithi is the confluence of the tail-water discharges of the Powai and Vihar lakes. The river is seasonal and rises during the monsoon. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river's flow, which is stopped by a dam at other times.
Geography
The river originates from the overflow of the Vihar Lake and also receives the overflows from the Powai Lake, about 2 km downstream. It flows for 18 km before discharging into the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek, flowing through the residential and industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra Kurla Complex, Dharavi, and Mahim. The river has an average width of 5 metres in the upper reaches, and has been widened to 25 m, in the middle reaches and up to 70 m in the lower reaches after the 26 July 2005 deluge (944 mm in 24 h on 26 July 2005).
Environmental degradation
The river has been polluted by the dumping of raw sewage, industrial waste, and municipal waste into the river. Besides this, illegal activities like washing vessels, animals, and oily drums, discharge of unauthorised hazardous waste are also carried out along the course of this river. Cattle sheds in some areas contribute to animal waste. Barrel cleaners, scrap dealers, and others dump sludge oil, effluent, and garbage in the river. The organic waste, sludge, and garbage dumping has reduced the carrying capacity of the river. The water with mixture of sewage and industrial waste is a threat to marine life. The river bed is full of sludge, garbage, and vegetation growth like water hyacinth in many parts.
Cleanup
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has undertaken a cleanliness drive lately so that the floods of 26 July 2005 are not repeated. An environmental group has been formed by Rajendra Singh, an award-winning conservationist in 2009. The BMC has been able to remove just 267,000 cubic metres so far, or 60% of what is required.
Development
Many young entrepreneurs in and around Mumbai are now aggressively involved with raising awareness of the degradation of the Mithi River, and creating awareness on a global scale, as the government of India has again begun to ignore this extremely important issue. In 2009, environmentalist and Magsaysay Award winner, Rajendra Singh, led a yatra, of a group of environmentalists and NGOs, through Mumbai city along the degraded Mithi River to highlight its problems.
A Contemporary Art show was also held in 2009 to increase awareness of the dire situation of the Mithi River in Bombay by Chintan Upadhyay titled Khatti – Mithi.
References
References
- "Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority - Mithi River Development and Protection Authority".
- "Mithi river water pollution and recommendations for its control". [[Maharashtra Pollution Control Board]].
- Aghor, Ashwin. (2009-01-12). "Eco group formed to revive Mithi River". DNA.
- "Mithi River - Let's Try and save Mithi River in Bombay / Mumbai it's turned in to 101% sewage".
- (12 January 2009). "Waterman of India plans a river parliament to revive the Mithi". [[Indian Express]].
- (2009-06-28). "Water babies, stinky but timely". The Times Of India.
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