Hundreds march to turn the tide and save 4 rivers
TNN | Mar 6, 2016, 11.31 PM IST
ALL FOR A CAUSE: Citizens went around Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and Mithi rivers.
MUMBAI:
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March, a few hundred Mumbaikars met
on Sunday for a River March. Four groups of citizens went around the
periphery of the city's four rivers namely Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara and
Mithi, whose condition has deteriorated over the years.
The River March, in its second year, saw hundreds participating, including school students. The participants, who met at 7am, discussed the need for rejuvenation of the rivers.
Gopal Jhaveri, one of the management committee members for the march, said, "We plan to organize the River March on the first Sunday of every March. This project aims towards making the rivers of Mumbai sustainable. Mumbai as a city has everything, including a national park, the Arabian Sea as well as four rivers. It is we who need to decide whether we want these rivers or not. These rivers can be used for developing water sports and letting mangroves come back, besides its other benefits."
The organizers said that the condition of rivers will not improve till the time citizens refer to the rivers as rivers and not as nullahs. "Crores of rupees are spend every year by the BMC on desilting these rivers. Instead, if we all are focused on keeping them clean by not throwing any garbage in it, incidents like aquatic animals being washed ashore will reduce," said an organizer.
The support from the forest department and Mumbaikars has been overwhelming, he added.
Borivli resident Bajrang Agarwal, also an organizer, said that the rivers, if maintained and rejuvenated, could help in rainwater harvesting without having to spend much.
The River March, in its second year, saw hundreds participating, including school students. The participants, who met at 7am, discussed the need for rejuvenation of the rivers.
Gopal Jhaveri, one of the management committee members for the march, said, "We plan to organize the River March on the first Sunday of every March. This project aims towards making the rivers of Mumbai sustainable. Mumbai as a city has everything, including a national park, the Arabian Sea as well as four rivers. It is we who need to decide whether we want these rivers or not. These rivers can be used for developing water sports and letting mangroves come back, besides its other benefits."
The organizers said that the condition of rivers will not improve till the time citizens refer to the rivers as rivers and not as nullahs. "Crores of rupees are spend every year by the BMC on desilting these rivers. Instead, if we all are focused on keeping them clean by not throwing any garbage in it, incidents like aquatic animals being washed ashore will reduce," said an organizer.
The support from the forest department and Mumbaikars has been overwhelming, he added.
Borivli resident Bajrang Agarwal, also an organizer, said that the rivers, if maintained and rejuvenated, could help in rainwater harvesting without having to spend much.
Top Comment
Good move from these well qualified and know all of the 4 Rivers of Mumbai which need to be revived and sustained and develop them into useful Sport centres and future generations people would be tha... Read More"River March is a march of the people. We realized that while everyone knows that something needs to be done to improve the condition of rivers, nobody is aware where to start," said Agarwal.
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