Investigating the Effects of Urbanization on River Pollution in Mumbai

This study investigates the relationship between urbanization and river pollution along the Mithi River in Mumbai, India. Over the past four decades, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and informal settlement development have significantly altered land use and degraded water quality. Using a mixed-methods approach, field observations from sixteen sites in July 2025 were combined with secondary geospatial and historical data to assess spatial patterns in observable environmental condition. Results indicate that industrial and slum-adjacent zones exhibit the poorest environmental quality, while coastal mangrove and central business district (CBD) areas demonstrate comparatively better conditions in this survey. A qualitative contextual comparison with 2014 Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) documentation suggests that several midstream reaches highlighted in public monitoring and action planning overlap with sections observed as highly degraded in 2025, particularly around the airport corridor and central industrial–settlement reaches. However, due to differences in indicators, methodologies, and spatial units, temporal continuity is inferred qualitatively rather than demonstrated quantitatively. These findings highlight that unregulated development is associated with degraded river conditions, and that targeted investments in sewage treatment, mangrove conservation, and land-use planning are relevant priorities for improving urban river health. The study underscores the importance of integrating ecological restoration with urban growth strategies to support sustainable river management in megacities such as Mumbai.