The Rivered that Soured

The ever-expanding city of Mumbai has exerted immense pressure on its natural environment, notably evident in the fate of the Mithi River. Once a vibrant waterway aptly named 'sweet' in Marathi, the Mithi now bears the burden of Mumbai's urbanization, transformed into a polluted stormwater drain meandering through the city's heart. Dharavi, India's largest slum, flanks its banks, epitomizing the challenges of waste management and urban sprawl. Dylan's exploration traces the Mithi's 18km journey from Vahir Lake to Mahim Bay, revealing the stark contrast between its past vitality and present degradation. The river's plight, exacerbated by inadequate waste management and highlighted by catastrophic floods in 2005, reflects the city's short-sightedness. Despite encasement in a concrete wall, symbolic of misguided attempts to control its course, there are glimmers of hope. Environmental activist Afroz Shah and his volunteers epitomize the potential for restoration, having already removed thousands of tons of trash. Yet, the path to redemption for the Mithi and Mumbai's forgotten river demands collective action and a concerted effort to reclaim its lost splendour.

But the polluted river remains a life-line for some. Immersed waist-deep in festering pollutants, men sifts through the trash found in the Mithi River in the hope of finding recyclables.
A six-meter-high concrete walls separates the river from the surrounding rubbish tip, in a shortsighted attempt to prevent flooding. The 2005 flood devastated Mumbai. The Mithi, clogged with tonnes of garbage, struggled to cope with the 944mm of rain
Material washes down the river until it reaches Mahim Bay. There it tangles onto the few mangroves that survive this hostile environment
The Mithi River was in the way of progress for the city and so was diverted to allow the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, located in the centre of the city, to expand. This destroyed estuaries and low-lying floodplains, increasing the chanc
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The Mithi empties into Mahim Bay bringing with it the city’s garbage. A small amount of the rubbish that flows into the Arabian sea washes back on the shores of Mumbai
A woman disposes of household trash by throwing it directly into the Mithi River located adjacent to the slum where she lives in Mumbai. This occurs numerous times throughout the day because unfortunately there is no trash pick up for the community t
Hundreds of volunteers gather at the start of the Mithi River, which is a dry riverbed at this time, to separate the inorganic waste from the mud. The clean-up is organised by Eco-Activist Afroz Shah, in a bid to save Mumbai’s waterways. Shah is well
Young volunteers add to a growing pile of waste gathered while cleaning the riverbed.
The polluted Mahim Bay separates Mumbai’s high-rises from the fishing village slums.
The sun sets on another day on the Mithi, as a garland from a nearby temple mingles with human waste on the river a city forgot.
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