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Mumbai's annual Mithi River desilting exercise has missed its June 10 completion deadline, with major stretches in Kurla and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) still awaiting clearance before the peak monsoon season. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reported that around 84% of the planned desilting work has been completed, pending works at several critical locations have raised concerns over the city's flood preparedness. Officials have attributed the delays to operational challenges and have stated that work will continue until the remaining stretches are cleared.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) annual desilting exercise for the Mithi River has extended beyond its scheduled June 10 deadline, with significant portions of the river, particularly around Kurla and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), yet to be fully cleared ahead of the monsoon. The delay comes as Mumbai enters a period when the river plays a crucial role in carrying stormwater and preventing urban flooding.
According to civic officials, approximately 84% of the planned desilting work has been completed. However, several sections identified as critical for improving water flow remain unfinished, prompting concerns over the river's ability to efficiently discharge excess rainwater during heavy downpours.
The Mithi River, which stretches around 18 kilometres from Powai and Vihar lakes to Mahim Creek, serves as one of Mumbai's primary stormwater channels. Since the devastating floods of July 2005, its maintenance and annual desilting have become a key component of the city's monsoon preparedness strategy.
Officials stated that work has progressed across multiple stretches of the river, but operations in parts of Kurla and BKC have faced delays owing to logistical and site-specific challenges. The presence of utilities, restricted access in certain locations and the complexity of removing accumulated silt and debris have affected the pace of work, according to the civic administration.
The desilting programme involves removing sediment, garbage and other obstructions from the riverbed to restore its carrying capacity. The exercise is undertaken every year before the onset of the monsoon to improve water flow and minimise the risk of flooding in low-lying areas adjoining the river.
The incomplete stretches have attracted attention because Kurla and BKC are among the city's densely developed zones, housing residential neighbourhoods, commercial establishments and major infrastructure assets. Any reduction in the river's carrying capacity during intense rainfall could increase the risk of waterlogging in adjoining areas.
The BMC has maintained that desilting operations will continue until all identified sections are completed and has indicated that machinery and personnel remain deployed at the pending locations. Officials have also stated that monitoring of the river and associated drainage infrastructure will continue throughout the monsoon season to ensure smooth water discharge.
The annual Mithi River restoration and maintenance programme forms part of Mumbai's broader flood mitigation strategy, which includes stormwater drain cleaning, pumping stations and infrastructure upgrades. With rainfall activity expected to intensify during the coming weeks, the completion of the remaining desilting work will be closely watched as the city seeks to strengthen its monsoon resilience.
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