Indian Express 21.01.2010
Rs 1,657-cr demand to Centre, as aid for Mithi
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have approached the Union Urban Development Ministry once again for financial assistance to the Mithi river rejuvenation project.
The joint proposal was sent to the Ministry in the last week of December. The demand is for Rs 1,657.11 crore: over Rs 1,200 crore for the BMC and the rest for the MMRDA.
After the deluge in July 2005, the MMRDA and the BMC started work on widening and deepening the river, which forms the main rainwater drainage system in the suburbs. Apart from widening and deepening, the second phase will involve building a retaining wall and service road along the banks of the river.
The state too has approached the Centre for funds. “But the Centre had refused funds under the urban renewal project because of the question whether the Mithi is a river or a drain,” said an MMRDA officer. “We have now asked for funds under Additional Central Assistance (ACA),” said Uma Adusumili, project director, Mithi River Development and Protection Authority.
Of the 17.4-km stretch, 11 km is under the BMC’s control and 6 km under MMRDA, with 400 metres under the Airports Authority of India.
The MMRDA has completed 97 per cent of the deepening work and 72 per cent of the widening work so far, while the BMC has completed 64 per cent of its share, with half-a-metre’s deepening work remaining. On the retaining wall, both agencies have completed 37 per cent of the work. “For the service roads tenders have been floated and work should start soon,” said an official.
Sources said the BMC plans to shelve the idea of an additional drain or nullah, to deviate the flow under the airport runway. The section under the runway varies in width between 27 and 40 metres as compared to the ideal, uniform width of 60 metres. “We thought a nullah would help, but it cannot be as there are legal structures on the spot,” said a BMC official.
Earlier this month, Chief Secretary J P Dange met Municipal Commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya, Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad and Mumbai International Airport Limited officials, who were asked to study how the river section on the premises and the culvert under the runway can be widened without disturbing runway activities.
The MMRDA has appointed a consultant for Environment Ministry clearance to river widening from the patch between Mahim Causeway and Dharavi Bridge. “A patch of mangroves needs to be removed,” the official said.
