Is it the state govt’s insistence on getting full funding for BRIMSTOWAD from the Centre that has put the Rs 1,800-crore project on hold? A DNA Analysis
What’s clogging the city’s stormwater drain project? Is it the state government’s insistence on getting full funding for BRIMSTOWAD from the Centre that has put the Rs 1,800-crore project on hold?
State officials urged the Prime Minister during his last visit to the city to provide full funding for BRIMSTOWAD. As a result, all files of the JNNURM-approved project had to be sent to the Union Urban development ministry, and are now pending with the Planning Commission. Civic officials fear that it will take another two years for the project to start.
“Having got the technical clearance from JNNURM, it would have been a faster route to kickstart work on the project,” said a top civic official. He added that the administration also had a strategy in place to raise finances through civic depreciation and asset replacement funds. The delay is making everyone nervous. “BRIMSTOWAD is the most crucial project. BMC should have funded it entirely on its own. Crucial time is being lost, which the city just can’t afford,” said Narinder Nayar, president of Bombay First.
Municipal commissioner Johny Joseph is optimistic. “The Mithi clean-up is part of BRIMSTOWAD project, along with the cleaning of other rivers and nullahs. Budgetary provision of Rs 300 crore has already been made,” he said. Officials are keen that Mumbai Sewerage Disposal Project-II and Middle Vaitarana remain under JNNURM for clearance.
Buck up, HC tells Centre
Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to file an affidavit within two weeks clarifying its stand on the implementation of BRIMSTOWAD project. Hearing that change in plans — the project is being considered for 100 per cent central funding — could delay the project for over two years, Justice RM Lodha and Justice SA Bobade said, “The city cannot be permitted to suffer like this. The project cannot be held up for want of finances.”
The court has asked BMC to give details of the 2006-2007 Budget. If it showed a surplus then HC might consider asking the civic body to utilise it for upgrading the drainage system. — Anshika Misra
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