The Mithi river empties itself into the bay. All photos by Gopal MS.

The filth at the mouth of the Mithi river in Mahim.

Mahim Fort. During the monsoons, the sea spits back what we throw into it.

A make-shift florist near Mahim dargah.

The Mahim Fort has passed through many hands, from the Sultans of Gujarat to the Portugese and the British.

The electrical recycling yard in Kurla West.

An auto junkyard sits along the banks, from where you can see the Bandra Kurla Complex, which was built on land reclaimed from the Mithi river.

A mosque and auto junkyard reflected in the black waters of the Mithi in Kurla.

A boy gets his hair cut in a makeshift barber shop in Kurla West.

The river runs along Dharavi, home to several industries.

A photographer gets a boy to pose in front of the river.

A security guard keeps watch at Mahim Nature Park for people who illegally dump rubble and debri.

Mumbai airport's runway crosses the river.

Filterpada, near Powai lake, is the point where the river flows into the city.

Pipes carrying clean water run through slums in Filterpada.

A poster in Filterpada, warning of overflooding.