What natural resources are found in Mumbai?

Rivers

1). The Dahisar River is located in the northern suburbs of Mumbai near Dahisar. It originates in the Tulsi Lake in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the northern reaches of the city. The river drains into the Manori Creek. It was only till the year 1956-57 that crocodiles resided at the river bed.

The river has become highly polluted with the dumping of industrial effluents from workshops and sewage from slums and storm water draining into it. The BMC has undertaken a desalting and widening project to clean the river and prevent any further pollution.

2). River Mithi (also called Mahim River) is a river on the Salsette Island, on which the city of Mumbai is located. It is a confluence of tail water discharges of Powai and Vihar lakes. The river originates at Powai and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek flowing through residential and industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim over a distance of about 15 km.

The river bed is narrow in the initial stretch and is about 10 meters wide; but at the Bandra-Kurla complex, it is much wider. The river is also a natural drainage channel which carries the excess waters during the monsoons. The Mahim bay area, where Mithi River meets Arabian Sea is a nominated bird sanctuary where migratory birds come for nesting. This part is full of mangroves.

The river is seasonal and swells during the monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river flow which is stopped by a dam in other times. During this season, the river is a favourite with the anglers who catch large fish that escape from the lakes. However, fishing is barred there.

3). Oshiwara River begins in the Aarey Milk Colony of Mumbai, cuts through the Goregaon hills, across the Aarey Milk Colony before emptying into the Malad Creek.

On the way it is joined by another creek near Swami Vivekanand Road, before picking up industrial effluents and sewage while crossing the Oshiwara industrial estates and slums of Andheri.

The river is highly polluted and encroachments have shrunk it to a narrow stream. Most of the call centres in Malad have been built on reclaimed ground at the mouth of the river.

4). Poisar River begins in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and empties into the Marve Creek and finally into the Arabian Sea. The river is nothing more than a mere stream when it begins and is contaminated with industrial effluents and sewage.

Forests

Maharashtra has a fair share of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, thanks to an increasing awareness of wildlife preservation, which are now being cared for and conserved.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivali is located in the hill ranges around the suburbs of Borivali. It is situated about 40 kms away from the north of the island of Mumbai and about 8 km from the Arabian Sea. The park is spread over an area of 104 sq. kms.

The wildlife here includes the panther, antelope, moose deer, wild beer, monkeys, leopards etc. The rich and diverse forest is home to more than a thousand species of plants. It is also home to a large number of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fishes, land and water birds, reptiles etc.

The park also has a Lion Safari Park where special park vehicles take visitors through a natural habitat of the Indian Lions and other magnificent creatures within a distance of six feet.

Kanheri caves, one of the largest groups of Buddhist caves in western India, are another major attraction within the park.

Natural Resources In Mumbai