The Indian Express              05.06.2013

BMC panel chiefs in Shanghai for meet on water management

Chairmen of civic improvements and education committees left for Shanghai, China, Tuesday for an international meet on water management.

The BMC leaders, who will return to the city on June 10, claimed the trip expenses would be borne independently by them. "I have issued a cheque to BMC for my trip expenditure," said NCP leader Dhananjay Pisal.

"I have looked into the city's monsoon preparedness. The information obtained from the meet will benefit BMC," said Mayor Sunil Prabhu, who is also likely to attend the conference.

"After learning about Shanghai's water and waste management system, we can hopefully implement some of the ideas in Mumbai," said civic improvements committee chief Ram Barot of BJP.

Leader of the house in BMC Yashodhar Phanse of Shiv Sena and MNS leader Dilip Lande said they would not participate in the meet. Standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said he had to attend the Shiv Sena morcha against Tata Power on Friday.

Last month, BMC general body approved a proposal by Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar who demanded the civic body include corporators in any educational trips senior civic officers may undertake through the international organisation Citynet.

In July last year, Prabhu, along with some corporators, visited Singapore for the much-hyped 'Mayor Forum 2012' conference. On their return, the Mayor proposed a system for generating electricity by recycling garbage and reusing water treated in an innovative sewage treatment plants. Nearly a year later, the corporation has yet to seriously consider implementing any of these proposed mechanisms in the city.