CM spells out plans to make Mumbai world class city

Mumbai, Apr 12 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today reiterated his commitment to transform Mumbai into a city of international standards.

''When I took over as Chief Minister for the second time in 2004, I envisioned changing the face of Mumbai and transform it into a city of international standards,'' Mr Deshmukh said while replying to a discussion initiated by Leader of the Opposition Pandurang Phundkar.

''Mumbai has given much to the people and it is now time to endeavour for the development of the city,'' Mr Deshmukh said. He appreciated the cooperation extended by the Opposition on this issue.

The tax-payers should get their dues, he said while referring to the BJP leader Nitin Gadkari's remarks that ''Mumbai city is in an intensive care unit''.

He informed that several projects, to the tune of around Rs 11,000 crore, have been proposed to the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) which has the authority to sanction projects up to Rs 100 crore.

''Mumbai city is bursting at the seams with a population of 1.19 crore and there is no scope for further development as the city is surrounded by the sea on three sides,'' the Chief Minister observed.

Every day, 300 new families arrive in Mumbai from across the country to earn their livelihood, Mr Deshmukh pointed out and emphasised the need to take stringent action against encroachments and illegal hutments that have cropped up after the year 2000.

''It is not possible to stop the influx into Mumbai but encroachments need to be dealt with firmly,'' he said.

He said encroachments on the pavements will be cleared and the hutment dwellers rehabilitated within two to three years.

Mr Deshmukh said that several complaints against Spark, a non-governmental organisation working for slums development, had been received and a high-level probe had been instituted to look into the allegations.

He agreed to Mr Nitin Gadkari's suggestion for constructing railway overbridges at around 40 places in the city. The Peddar Road overbridge, he said, will become operational by December this year.

Referring to the issue of pollution raised by Dr Depak Sawant (Shiv Sena), Mr Deshmukh said more CNG stations would be provided and even BEST buses would be converted to run on CNG to reduce the pollution. ''My car, too, would be converted to run on CNG,'' the Chief Minister said.

There are nearly thirteen lakh vehicles running on the Mumbai roads and 300 more vehicles are added to this number every day, the Chief Minister said while noting that to meet this situation, underground parking arrangements will have to be created.

On the water situation, Mr Deshmukh said Mumbai's total requirement is for 4100 MLD while the actual supply at present stands at 3150 MLD. Around 355 MLD water would be supplied from Bhatsa Dam by December and 455 MLD water would be supplied from Vaitarana project by 2010 to meet the shortfall, he said.

Mr Deshmukh informed that desilting of the Mithi River had been undertaken on a war-footing. The river had gone into spate on July 26 last year.

Mr Deshmukh stressed the need to coordinate the functioning of various Government agencies. He said suitable legislation would be made to make it mandatory upon various agencies, including Central Government agencies like the railways, airport and the Bombay Port Trust, to seek the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's permission before undertaking any development activities.

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