Worli locals alarmed as part of sea turns black

Mumbai: Residents of housing societies in Worli expressed concern after noticing that part of the Arabian Sea near the Haji Ali dargah turned black. The civic body, however, claimed there was nothing to be worried about and it was only the outcome of desilting process upstream. 

    The residents alleged that a stormwater pumping station was draining pollutants unchecked into the sea. Raghu Sawhney (65), resident of Shiv Tirth, said, "On Monday, I noticed the water turning black; the filthy water seemed to be coming from the BMC pumping station across the road. Again on Tuesday, they started dumping filthy water into the bay." 

    L S Vhatkar, chief engineer, stormwater drains, said, "Residents need not fear any contamination as it is not any industrial effluent. The water becomes darker because of desilting. Once the desilting work is over in a few days, the water will return to normal." 

    A civic official at the pumping station said, "The station only regulates the flow of water from drains into the sea and they do not add any effluents into the water." 

    He explained that the water is darker than usual because of the desilting work. "When the drains are dredged, the submerged silt often mixes with the water and makes it appear darker." 

    Fisherfolk who dock near the dargah said that before each monsoon, the sea near Haji Ali turns black and at low tide, the water would stink.

The BMC says the black patch of sea (as indicated) was only the result of desilting work