In spite of the water shortage in Mumbai, the state government has poured water on the plans of developing mega housing projects and townships in the city, at least for the next three years.
The government clarified on Friday that no township or tower, consuming over 200,000 litre water daily, would be permitted in the city till the Middle Vaitarana project is completed by March 2012.
Replying to the questions raised at the winter session of the assembly in Nagpur on Friday, chief minister Ashok Chavan, stressed the acute need for water conservation in the time of crisis. Water supply to construction sites and swimming pools in housing complexes has already been discontinued, he said. Now, proposed townships and towers, with high consumption levels, would not be given permission to construct unless the developers concerned have their own means of providing the residents with adequate water.
The government hinted at tightening the rules for conservation of water and energy.
"Municipal corporations across the state have made rain water harvesting and recycling of water compulsory for housing societies. However, it is high time to make the rules more stringent to conserve water and energy. Rain water harvesting, recycling of water and solar energy generation will be made compulsory for housing societies and complexes from April 1 next year," the chief minister said.
The politician in him, however, did not forget to announce that illegal water connections in the slums of Mumbai will be regularised in spite of the crisis. “Adhering to the government decision of regularising pre-2000 hutments, the BMC will be asked to consider regularisation of these connections by recovering penalties and charges from the slum dwellers. Strict action will be taken against the water mafia,” Chavan said.
He said people should practise water conservation on a priority basis. He assured residents of South Mumbai that they would get adequate water after the underground tunnel (Malabar Hill to Cross Maidan) is completed.
Thousands of projects on hold
— Sandeep Ashar
Have you booked a flat in an under-construction housing complex or a self-contained township? Brace for a long wait as such projects are unlikely to be completed until 2012.
Nearly 5,000 under-construction buildings, which would require more than 2 lakh litre water per day after completion, will be affected by the bar on new water connections until the completion of the Middle Vaitarna project in March 2012. The project is expected to give the city an additional 455 million litres of water daily.
A senior civic official said that among some 25,000 under-construction projects in the city, only 2,349 had been sanctioned water connection. The rest were unlikely to get it soon.
Water connections are sought by developers after the work of setting up the structures is complete. The BMC cannot give a building completion certificate until it has procured water connection.
The BMC has stopped supplying water to construction sites. In July, when the cuts were first announced, it discontinued supply to over 2,000 under-construction buildings.
