Wooded bunds to prevent floods

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is developing a wooded bund on the Mithi river bank as recommended by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune for protection of the river.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is developing a wooded bund on the Mithi river bank as recommended by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune for protection of the river.

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Bunds are barriers, which prevent erosion and flooding. The 900-meter wooded bund, on the Mithi bank, includes plantation of trees such as coconut, ficus benjamina, plumeria alba and Singaporean coconut palms.

Besides this, a correan carpet lawn - which is a ready effect lawn with mounds and sitting arrangements — has also been set up on the 400-metre stretch.

The Rs 50 lakh development of the wooded bund on the Mithi bank is expected to be completed by August end.

In its report, the CWPRS made many recommendations for the development and protection of the Mithi river including development of the

wooded bund, besides construction of a gabion wall and service roads on the bank of the river.

Following the CWPRS recommendations, the MMRDA had drawn up a Rs 9.8-crore project which included the construction of an eco-friendly gabion wall, service roads and development of the wooded bund along the banks of the river.

After constructing the gabion wall — which is flexible in its nature and helps protect mangroves — and the service roads, the MMRDA undertook the development of the wooded bund - costing Rs 50 lakh.