News: The Mithi river flowing through Mumbai has became a national symbol of urban vulnerability after the devastating floods that claimed over 1,000 lives in 2005.
About Mithi River
- Location: The Mithi River is one of the four rivers flowing through the city of Mumbai.
- Origin: The river originates from the overflow of the Vihar Lake and also receives the overflows from the Powai Lake, about 2 km downstream.
- Length and end: It flows for approximately 18 km before meeting the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek.
- The river passes through densely populated residential areas and major industrial zones of Mumbai.
- Importance of River: The Mithi River plays a crucial role as a natural stormwater drainage system for Mumbai.
- It helps control flooding in a low-lying coastal city that receives heavy monsoon rainfall.
- The river and its mangroves support a fragile estuarine ecosystem and protect the city from tidal flooding.
- Current condition of river: The Mithi River currently functions more like a sewage drain than a natural river.
- Powai Lake has pollution levels far above safe limits and has been declared unfit for drinking.
