Indian Express 28.10.2010
No coordination panel meet on infrastructure projects in 2 years
sharvaripatwa Tags : Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, mumbai Posted: Thu Oct 28 2010, 05:36 hrs
Mumbai: Public agencies, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other state-run bodies have not held a coordination meeting in the last two years to discuss issues concerning infrastructure projects in the city.The committee—Samanvay Samiti—comprises heads of all public agencies such as MMRDA, PWD, SRA, Airports Authority of India (AAI), MSRDC and collector and is headed by the chief minister.
Mayor Shraddha Jadhav on Wedendsay said she had written a series of letters to the Chief Minister, who heads the committee, to hold meeting as there several pending matters to be discussed. The latest letter to the CM was written in September 2010, she said.
“I have written four letters to the CM requesting him to meet Samanvay Samiti but he has not been able to find time for the same,” said Jadhav. “It is really essential that the committee meet soon as urgent infrastructural issues need to be addressed.”
The committe is yet to take some major decisions on slum encroachment along the water pipleines in Mumbai, desalination plant and related fund issues, central government and state government grants for several projects, disaster cell and security-related issues, issues concerning Deonar Abbatoir, pending grants to schools for mentally-challenged indivduals, matters relating to pension of schools, demand for police stations and a force to tackle slum enroachments, demand for no-toll tax on sealink for BMC vehicles, pending internal loan requests of 2009-2010 and various disputes with MMRDA.
According to ex-mayor Shubha Raul, the last co-ordination committee meeting was taken place in 2008 and it was conducted to take some decision on terror-related issues following the 26/11 incident.
“An all-purpose inclusive co-ordination committee meeting has not held in the last six years” said Raul.
“Ideally, this meeting should happen at least once a year as it gives an opportunity all public agencies to meet, discuss, debate and find solution for ongoing or pending infrastructure and other projects,” said Raul.
According to her, “as the chief minister will be present in the meeting, heads of all agencies may actively involve themselves in the decision-making process”.
“Also, several projects will be put on fast track once the CM gives approval.”
