The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to file an action report on steps taken to clean up the Mithi river, which flows through the city.

The High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiyya, which contends that clogging up of Mithi river aggravated the flood situation of July 26, 2005 in the city.

In the last hearing, the court had directed the authorities to produce photographs to show that river is being cleaned up and the encroachments and garbage dumps on its bank are removed.

On Friday, the BMC produced photographs clicked on February 2, but photographs taken by Somaiyya on Friday morning belied the claim that the river is being cleaned up.

Consequently, the HC directed BMC ward officers to visit the places where garbage is still dumped along with Somaiyya and clean up the river bank on regular basis.

The court also directed that action should be taken up against those who dump garbage and construction debris in the river and a report should be submitted by March 22.

Complete coverage: Terrible Tuesday