After leaving park, Mumbai's rivers get polluted

MUMBAI: All of Mumbai's four major rivers originate in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli. And, it's only within the park that the rivers are relatively clean. They begin to get polluted as soon as they exit its protected environs and enter the city.
The Mithi begins from the overflow of the Vihar and Powai lakes. Madhav Chitale, who prepared a report on the causes of the 2005 flood for the state government, says, "The Mithi River gets polluted as soon as it leaves the national park.Within the park, the only pollution is from leaves that fall from trees. If these are not removed, they become muck. Yet the river is as clean as it can be in the park."
The smaller Oshiwara River empties into the Arabian Sea at Versova Creek. Its course runs through Andheri's industrial belt. The Dahisar River starts at Tulsi Lake and empties into Gorai-Manori creek. "By the time she crosses the (Western Express) Highway, Dahisar becomes a sewer," says Janak Daftary of the Mithi Nadi Sansad. The Poisar River begins in the Borivli side of the park, runs most of its course through Kandivli and empties into the Versova Creek.