To keep the seven beaches clean at the Malad coast, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) daily spends INR 45,000 to deploy 20 workers and heavy-duty beach cleaning equipment. This will continue until the cleaning contract expires in April 2027.
The seven beaches include Aksa, Marve, Dana Pani, Madh, Erangal, Silver, and Bhati. They span an 8-kilometre stretch. During the rainy season, 6 to 7 metric tonnes of trash is collected daily, while 3 to 3.5 metric tonnes is collected during other seasons.
BMC hired Rakshit Infrastructure for six years, starting in 2021, at the cost of INR 10.16 crore. This amount increases annually to account for inflation. This year, BMC will spend INR 1.62 crore to clean Malad beaches.
Of the seven, Aksa Beach is the most visited, attracting 5,000 visitors on weekends. Unlike the other beaches, Aksa suffers from littering in addition to the trash brought in by high tide. Despite BMC's efforts, maintaining cleanliness is a challenge.
Aksa Beach also has a high rate of drowning incidents, with an average of 38 deaths annually between 2006 and 2018. The beach often closes during rough seas and heavy rain. The beach is closed at around 8 pm. and stays closed during rough waves. Seven lifeguards work in shifts to make sure of safety.
Dana Pani Beach collects more trash due to its curved shape. The rocky terrain makes it difficult for BMC’s machines to clean effectively.
Marve Beach is popular because it serves as a gateway to the Manori ferry. However, access to a part of the beach is restricted by navy personnel. This beach accumulates litter, leftover fish, and sea trash. The beach is cleaned once in the morning, and the majority of the cleaning is done by hand.
Erangal, Madh, Bhati, and Silver Beaches are primarily used by fishermen. Silver Beach is also popular among joggers for its soft sand.
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