Not a single rupee from Centre for Mumbai's Mithi River clean-up: RTI

Agencies

December 16, 2020

Mumbai, Dec 16: The Centre government has not sanctioned any funds whatsoever for the cleaning and development of Mumbai's sole flowing water body, the Mithi River, as per an RTI reply.

Mithi River had created a huge havoc during the great floods of July 26, 2005, when it submerged even the Mumbai international airport and other areas in its path.

Thereafter, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had sought central assistance of Rs 1,657.11 crore to clean, and develop it, as well as for sewerage management and other aspects.

Seeking details of the same, Mumbai RTI activist Anil Galgali sought details from MMRDA on the progress of the river project and the funding received from the Centre till date.

"Shockingly, the RTI reply said that the Centre has not given a single penny to the MMRDA though its 15 years since the 26/7 deluge and the subsequent floods that paralysed Mumbai for more than three days," he said.

As per the RTI replies, the MMRDA had sought Rs 417.51 crore for the development works it had carried out, besides the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation which demanded Rs 1,239.60 crore for the work carried out in its jurisdiction.

After the flooding owing to the choking of the Mithi River - which was flanked by large-scale illegal encroachments and effluents discharge - the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a financial package for the widening and development of the river.

Accordingly, the state government set up the ambitious Mithi River Development and Conservation Authority to implement the project but in the absence of the central funds, it continues to languish, and barely 35 percent has been implemented, said Galgali.

Mithi River originates from the lakes in the lush green hills of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, passes adjacent to the Mumbai airport and after flowing 18 km, empties into the Arabian Sea near Mahim.

It also has tributaries in the north-western suburbs that flow in Borivali, Kandivali and Goregaon, which also empty into the Arabian Sea.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Nati koli saaru, fry, idli, vada and pongal on Siddaramaiah’s breakfast menu at DKS’ residence

News Network

December 2,2025

Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

Comments