Mumbai, September 1, 2026: The BMC is once again turning to steel nets to tackle rampant garbage dumping in Mumbai’s nullahs. After installing similar nets at several vulnerable locations over the past two years, the civic body now plans to erect 10-foot-high steel nets along a stretch of the Vakola nullah to prevent residents from throwing waste directly into the waterway.
The Vakola River, adjoining the Dnyaneshwar slum settlement, has been severely polluted by indiscriminate dumping of garbage, with the waterway increasingly resembling a drain. The BMC has received repeated complaints about floating waste choking the river.
Steel Net Planned Along Vakola River
According to a proposal submitted to the Standing Committee for approval at its meeting on Wednesday, the BMC’s Storm Water Drains (SWD) Department has been directed to install a garbage-trapping net along the retaining wall of the Vakola River, following directions from MLA Varun Sardesai. The project is estimated to cost Rs 1.79 crore and aims to prevent solid waste from entering the waterway.
Similar nets installed at Main Avenue Nullah and South Avenue Nullah have, according to civic officials, significantly reduced garbage dumping. The BMC is now banking on the same intervention to tackle the persistent problem at Vakola.
Bulky Waste Dumping Also Targeted
The move also targets the dumping of bulky waste — including furniture, cupboards and sofas — particularly in slum areas. In December 2023, the SWD Department piloted the use of steel nets at P&T Colony in Bandra West. Following positive results, the initiative was expanded to other vulnerable nullahs near slums and chawls.
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With 309 major and 1,508 minor nullahs across Mumbai, the civic body faces a massive challenge in keeping the city’s waterways free of waste.
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