Mithi Scam has taken 5 lives, charged BJP leader & Ex Member of Parliament, Dr. Kirit Somaiya.  It is “Mithi Silt Ghotala”.  Yet Mithi River ’s source of water, i.e. 3 lakes – Vihar, Powai and Tulsi – are still to overflow.  Within 2 weeks, these lakes will overflow.  One more heavy rain and whole of the Mithi Zone between Saki Naka and Airport shall be flooded. Dr. Kirit Somaiya warned the Mithi Authority and the Government to take steps to protect the areas like Kranti Nagar, Samhita Industrial Estate, Airline Colony, Jharimari, Safed Pool, Kalpana Talkies Junction.  There will be more casualty in the present situation.

BJP demanded criminal action against all the officials who, in spite of warning, have failed to do the Mithi work.  Even the normal routine desilting of Mithi has also not been done by MMRDA.  Once again, MMRDA authorities started window dressing activities.  The figure floated by MMRDA of removing 2.69 lac cu.meter silt is misleading.  This includes Naik Nala, Vakola Nala and such other nalas.  The actual work of Mithi is less than 5% of 23 lac cu.meter work.  It was MMRDA who announced and issued work order to remove and transport 7.5 lac cu.meter of Mithi silt before the beginning of monsoon.

This is Mithi Silt Ghotala.  Dr. Kirit Somaiya has questioned MMRDA where the silt has gone.  BMC has informed Dr. Somaiya that they have received less than 20,000 cu.meter silt of Mithi-MMRDA.  Navi Mumbai Mahapalika and Thane Mahapalika have warned Mithi contractors not to dump Mithi silt illegally there.  Only 1,500 cu.meter at Kopar Khairne and 1,000 cu.meter at Thane Balkumb were dumped.

It may be recollected that CAG has asked Government to have special investigation of Mithi Silt Ghotala of last year.

BMC has removed 1,68,200 cu.meter and transported 1,33,800 cu.m. silt this time