NEERI study suggests improvement in Mithi waters

Of the 32 discharge points where water was sampled, 26 points showed a significant decrease in flow, with discharge points near Aarey Milk colony, Kalpana talkies on Kalina Kurla road, Airport land and Airport India Colony showing drastically reduced flow. The water quality near the Airport was termed “almost treated water quality” in the report. The reason for this reduction at Aarey was attributed to the steep slope and reduced width of the nullah and near Kalpana Talkies, it was attributed to change of land use which diverted the sources of pollution into the nullah.

Meanwhile, the WQI recorded at sampling points at Bandra Kurla Complex is 37, as compared to the WQI of 27 and 25 recorded in 2006 and 2004 by IIT-B and MPCB respectively. Similarly, water quality along the industrial belt of Andheri-Marol-Saki stretch is 47 in 2013-14, as compared to 28 in 2006 as well as 2004. While these figures are far from the ideal WQI of 100, NEERI scientists believe continued efforts by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to take action against polluting industries will improve the quality further in the coming years.

Improved effluent treatment systems employed by industries along Mithi and removal of slums, believed to be major sources of domestic pollution, are the major reasons for the better water quality, according to NEERI.

“There is a significant reduction in pollution levels in the water sampled near industrial areas. Stringent action by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and improved Effluent Treatment Plants used by these units have helped greatly to reduce pollution. In some places, diversion of nullahs and removal of slums have helped,” Kumar added.

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