The lush green terrains of the Dahisar River once used to be the backdrop for filming scenes of many Hindi movies. Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala starrer Naya Daur was shot by the clean waters of Dahisar River around five decades ago. It is said that even crocodiles used to reside in the river till the late 1960s. But heartbreakingly, parts of the pristine river have now turned into a dumping ground. The river that springs from Tulsi Lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park is now bearing the brunt of the industrial boom with plastic wastes, factory scraps, domestic wastes, etc.
Dahisar Is One Of The Four Rivers Originating In Mumbai
Before meeting the Arabian Sea in Manori Creek, the Dahisar River crosses through Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Sri Krishna Nagar, Daulatnagar, Leprosy Colony, Kandar Pada, Sanjay Nagar and Dahisar Gaothan. It is one of the four rivers that originate in Mumbai, the other three being Mithi, Oshiwara, and Poisar. All of them have become polluted now. Many parts of the Dahisar River, which was a popular shooting spot for Hindi movies in the 60s, bear stark appearances now, sullied with unwanted wastes.
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Authorities And Organisations Are Taking Steps To Boost Cleaning Of The River
The factors that have contributed to the rise in pollution levels in the river waters are increased population on the banks, industrial expansion, dumping of untreated garbage, debris and more. The pollutants not only ruin the aesthetic value of the river but also impact the marine life underneath and the lives of the animals on the river surfaces. After the 2005 floods in Maharashtra, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) began a desilting project to clean up the river. Steps for widening the river have also been taken by the authority to prevent future flooding. Many organisations have also taken up initiatives to clean the river.
A year ago, BMC had cleared around 95 unauthorised structures on the banks of the river. Mission Together Mumbai is also running a Dahisar Mangrove Clean-up Drive, in which anybody can participate. On December 1, 2020, Mission Green India had shared a video of the river after cleaning it. In the video, the waters are seen flowing smoothly, free from the pollutants, and the sight is soothing. BMC has also launched initiatives to clean Mumbai’s Mithi River and the nullahs.
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Let us all be responsible citizens and do our bit to retain the beauty of our natural environment. Many small steps taken together can bring a significant change in the long run.