Mumbai: The desilting of the Mithi River has hit a major roadblock as an ongoing police investigation into alleged contract irregularities casts a long shadow over the project. With no contractors currently willing to take up the work and others wary of stepping forward amid uncertainty, the desilting operations have slowed considerably.
At present, the BMC is left with no viable options among the existing contractors, and officials now fear whether the work can be completed before the onset of the next heavy rainfall.
The 22-kilometre-long Mithi River is Mumbai’s largest and most critical stormwater drain, playing a vital role in mitigating urban flooding. Desilting work began in April as part of the city’s pre-monsoon disaster preparedness.
Since the catastrophic 2005 deluge, regular maintenance of the river has become a cornerstone of the BMC’s flood prevention strategy. Accumulated silt and debris continue to hamper the river’s water-carrying capacity, heightening the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
The desilting project has been divided into three phases, with an estimated expenditure of nearly Rs 100 crore for 2025 to 2027. However, only 53% of the work has been completed so far, raising concerns about the city’s readiness ahead of the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the desilting work on the Mithi River has suffered a setback following a police investigation into an alleged scam involving two contractors currently working on the project.
Another contractor has been blacklisted after being found guilty of malpractice, further stalling progress on this critical flood-prevention initiative, officials said.
"Since the desilting work is crucial, we tried to identify a new agency to complete the remaining tasks on a war footing. We even reached out to contractors from Navi Mumbai and Thane, but most are hesitant to take on the work amid the ongoing probe. With no viable alternatives, we are left with no choice but to proceed with the blacklisted contractor M/s Bhumika Transport," a senior civic official admitted.
Mithi river expenditure..
Phase 1 - Rs 30.75 crores
Phase 2 - Rs 32.62 crores
Phase 3 - Rs 32.73 crores
