Thane: Pollution, Encroachments Turn Bhiwandi’s Kamvari River Into A Drain

The Kamvari River in Bhiwandi, located in Thane district, has turned into a water hyacinth-covered nullah due to unchecked waste dumping and pollution. Encroachment by industries and buildings has further worsened the river's condition, with untreated industrial wastewater and chemicals contaminating its waters.

Residents claim that the river has not been cleaned for years, despite funds being allocated for its maintenance. The pollution has severely impacted the local ecosystem. The river flows through the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) limits and Shelar Gram Panchayat.

According to residents, dyeing companies located near the river directly discharge untreated chemicals into the water, making it highly contaminated. This polluted water then flows through Khoni Gaon and Khadipar. Despite the worsening condition, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has allegedly ignored the issue for years.

Several slum dwellings are situated along the riverbanks, where waste and garbage are dumped directly into the water, affecting both the environment and public health. However, the BNCMC has failed to take significant action.

Pravin Patil, an NCP leader from Bhiwandi, criticized the civic administration, stating that the Kamvari River has effectively become a nullah due to the negligence of BNCMC’s Environment Department. He also alleged that the corporation had purchased cleaning equipment, including a JCB and a dumper, but they remain unused and damaged due to neglect.

BNCMC Public Relations Officer Shrikant Pardeshi stated, "We are responsible for a 1.6-kilometer stretch of the Kamvari River, while the remaining section falls under the jurisdiction of Shelar Gram Panchayat. We have not issued any tenders for cleaning the river at this time."

Anil Avhad, Head of the Environment Department at BNCMC, added, "We have informed the water department about the water hyacinth and issued a notice to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board regarding dyeing factories discharging effluents into the river without treatment."

Meanwhile, former Shelar village sarpanch and social activist Kiran Channe accused the concerned authorities, including the MPCB, of merely issuing notices without taking any real action. He alleged that corruption is rampant, preventing effective measures from being implemented to clean and restore the river.