After years of delay and facing series of protests, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is finally a step closer to rejuvenate the Dahisar river, even as the rejuvenation of Mithi and other two rivers, Poisar and Oshiwara, remains a distant dream. Also, BMC on Friday cleared 256 unauthorised structures on the banks of Dahisar river and 45 illegal structures from the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg.
In all, 301 illegal structures were razed by BMC to widen the banks of Dahisar river to prevent flooding and ensure easy flow of water during monsoon.
Among the illegal structures on the banks of Dahisar river, BMC has razed 206 illegal structures, while local residents demolished 50 illegal structures. Also, 45 structures were razed on the LBS Marg. After clearing the encroachments, a 2,065-feet long wall is planned to be constructed on the river banks. Of which, a length of 1,045 feet has been constructed and the remaining 1,020 feet was encroached, which was cleared on Friday.
“Due to the razing of illegal encroachments, the way will be wider, which will ease the traffic congestion problems. During monsoon, water will not get logged beside the Dahisar river,” said Sandhya Nandekar, assistant commissioner, R North ward of BMC. Along with this, a demolition drive was also done in division 6 in the Eastern suburb. It was the third time that BMC razed 45 illegal structures.
“After the demolition of illegal structures at Bhandup East, the vehicular movement will be more speedy due to the widened road,” said Santosh Dhonde, assistant commissioner of S ward.
For the demolition drive, 100 policemen, 91 BMC employees, including officers, workers and labourers were deployed, and a JCB, two Poclains and two dumpers were used.
