SAVE Ulhas River

The Ulhas River is a west flowing river in Western India in the state of Maharashtra draining an area 4,637 km2 in size.The Ulhas River  used to supply drinking water to the cities of Badlapur and Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivali.The total length of the river from its origin to its outfall in the Arabian sea is 122 km. Ulhas River have a lot of historical background from its origin. Let's start from the origin of this great river. The tributaries of Ulhas - Kalu and Bhastaare the major right bank tributaries which together accounts for 55.7% of the total catchment area of Ulhas. It flows through Thane, Raigad and Pune three main districts of Maharashtra and ends as a smelly Vasai  creek in the Arabian Sea. This is the tragic story of  Maharashtra's biggest river Ulhas.

This River originates in a valley north of the Rajmachi hills formed by mountain streams draining the northern slope of those hills which are part of the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.The Rajmachi Fort is one of the most fascinating historically important Forts in the Western Ghats used by all powers who fought for supremacy in Maharashtra. The fort was built by the Satavahanas but gained its fame under the rule of Shivaji Maharaj, who took over the fort in 1657. Shivaji Maharaj fortified and expanded the fort by addqing several structures within the premises. In 1704, it was captured by Mughals under Aurangzeb, and the very next year, it again came under the control of the Marathas. In the 18th century, it served as a major trade route, connecting present-day Mumbai and Pune. In the 19th century, the British took over the fort from the Marathas. Lonavala and Khandala  (the nearest railway stations) and are the famous hill stations which are also located in these hills. People who trek in Ramachi hills can take a dip in the waters of the river. One can enjoy the waterfalls that falls directly above the caves.The breathtaking landscapes makes it an ideal spot for trekking especially during monsoon. The train journey through the busiest line connecting the biggest citis of Maharashtra also pass through these hills to give the travelers a breathtaking journey. The Rajmachi fortresses are unique in their architecture and is marked by a wide plateau on both sides.

 From its source the river turns north and then turning left turning left where it is joined by River Salpe, its right-bank tributary. It then begins its north-eastward journey and passes the right bank at Khandpe village. The river bypasses the Palasdhari village where it receives the discharge from the Palasdhari Dam starting a northward course beyond this point coming to lie parallel to the rail tracks and reaches the city of Karjat. Meandering through Karjat, it reaches further north making a synapse with River Peg between Bhivpuri Road and Neral. Continuing its run along Neral it is joined by River Poshir, another right-bank tributary at Nikhop village. It flows north skirting Badlapur where it receives the run-off from Chikhloli Dam. Near Raw water pump house of MIDC Jambhul the river meets Barvi Dam discharge water which is also called as the Barvi River. The confluence of these is a tourist and fishing hub for villagers around. The river flows through Ulhasnagar to which it gives its name.It then passes under the rail bridge connecting Ambivali and Shahad (A part of Ulhasnagar city) and shortly after confluences with its biggest tributary formed by merging of River Bhatsa and River Kalu which together account for 55.7% of the total catchment area of River Ulhas.

Beyond Kalyan the river, nearly flowing at sea level, merges with the creek waters and it forms the estuary and its flow is totally influenced by the tide and the biggest mangrove forest around Thane and also in the western cost of Diva-Dombivali. In rainy season and during low tide the river continues to flow till Thane where splits into two branches which flow west and south, respectively, around Salsette Island, on which lies the metropolis of Mumbai. The main branch turns northwestward to Ghodbunder, where it opens into the estuary of Vasai Creek. Thane Creek flows south to empty into Bombay Harbour. The estuary of the Ulhas is the site of the historical ports of Kalyan, Kopri and Sopara

The main pollution of these river occur in the estuary part of this river especially beyond Kalyan. This is the area where it forms Mangrove forest. Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater. Here also we see a large number of species of animals and pants living wet ecosystem. 

Unfortunately for the Ulhas river it flows through the urban conglomerations of Bhivpuri, Neral, Badlapur, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Shahad, Kalyan and Dombivlito become the sewage drain. 

A quality analysis conducted by the Thane district public health laboratory has revealed that water from Waldhuni and Ulhas rivers is highly polluted and unfit for drinking. The findings of the study come less than a week after the Supreme Court (SC) slammed the state for failing to reduce pollution levels in both rivers. 

Indiscriminate urbanization under real estate mafia and land mafia is adding to the woes of this river. Maharastra pollution control board and other civic authorities totally agree that the water of Ulhas is not potable with all the harmful chemicals and other microorganisms. 

 In addition to the dumping of urban waste and sewage is polluting the river completely.  The report also added that the water has a “reddish brown appearance and objectionable odour”. Is this river fit enough supply drinking water to more than 30 lakh residents in Ulhasnagar, Thane, Kalyan, Badlapur and Dombivli??? Percentage of the 126 million litres a day (MLD) sewage generated daily that is treated by the Kalyan - Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) before it is released into the river. Up from 10% in 2016. This is due to untreated domestic and industrial effluent from Kalyan-Dombivli, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, and Kulgaon-Badlapur that heavily pollutes the river as it makes it final stretch of journey. Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) informs the Supreme Court that it is augmenting its sewage treatment facilities by adding five sewage treatment plants (STP) to its current three. The court was hearing a petition filed by an environmental group.

Ulhas estuary forms freshwater ecosystems that have many similar characteristics to the traditional brackish estuaries. For example, along the Great Lakes, river water with very different chemical and physical characteristics mixes with lake water in coastal wetlands that are affected by tides and storms just like estuaries along the oceanic coasts. So it provide many of the ecosystem services and functions that brackish estuaries do, such as serving as natural filters for runoff and providing nursery grounds for many species of birds, fish, and other animals. Estuaries also forms  the most productive ecosystems as many animals rely on estuaries for food, places to breed, and migration stopovers.

The real estate mafia, the sand mafia etc. are becoming a grave threat to the mangroves and it is another urgency to protect Ulhas mangroves with its millions of birds, animals and fishes from becoming extinct completely and we too with it.