Since 2017, the Mahim Beach has seen a drastic change with local residents as well as the Koli fishermen community helping with the mass cleanup drive. Residents and husband and wife duo named Indranil Sengupta and Rabia Tewari have also been closely involved with the cleanup drive since September 2017. Other residents of the area collectively formed the Mahim Beach Committee in a bid to keep an eye on the BMC’s (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) beach cleanup efforts.
As a result of this cleanup, the ecology has improved significantly with birds like the black-headed seagull which were previously circulating around Hinduja Hospital are now making their way to the beach. Moreover, the removal of garbage has also encouraged kids to play on the beach without worrying about the plastic dump.
The 2KM stretch from Hinduja Hospital to Mahim Reti Bunder is reportedly seeing more sand thanks to the reduction in pollution, while the aforementioned black-headed seagulls are flocking the area more than ever.
A majority of the waste that ends up on Mahim Beach originates from the Mithi River given that the river meets the sea near Mahim. It is said that 90% of the waste that washes up on Mahim’s shores are plastic. Further, the beach also has two stormwater drains connected to it.
A civic official from the G Ward North said “Garbage thrown has come down drastically because of citizens’ participation. The water has also turned from blackish to blueish. Fishermen are saying that shell fish and crabs, which had disappeared have made a comeback.”
Meanwhile, Mushtaq Ansari, a member of the Mahim Beach Committee said “In 2017, there was no sand, only garbage. But now people take selfies here, kids build castles and play football and cricket on the sand.”
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