HC asks top finance officals of State, Union to meet over BRIMSTOWAD

Mumbai, Sep 14 (UNI) The Bombay High Court asked the nominees of the Planning Commission, Finance Ministry, State Government and Urban Development Department to meet and decide where the money for the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drains (BRIMSTOWAD) Project was going to come from in totality.

A division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde were hearing the public interest litigation filed by Dr Sandip Rane, Janhit Manch and other non-governmental organisations alleging that if the project had been implemented earlier, Mumbai would not have had to face the deluge last year.

However, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Phase I of the project will be completed by 2007. For the same, they have allotted Rs 280 Crores out of their budget.

Earlier the project was sanctioned by the Union Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and was to be financed 50 per cent by the BMC, 15 per cent by the state and 35 per cent by the Union government.

However, after Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh decided to seperate it as a complete project by itself, the entire funding was to be made by the Centre.

Meanwhile, the Centre had allotted Rs 356 crore under the JNURM to the BMC for the Phase I which will cost Rs 630 Crores.

The affidavit of the Union Government submitted today stated that the Ministry of Urban Development has forwarded the draft guidelines to the Finance Ministry as well as the Planning Commission for approval of provision of funds nd the same is expected to take atleast six months.

Additional Solicitor General of India, Balwant Desai contended before the court that the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary could approach the Planning Commission for approval and faster sanction of the balance money under BRIMSTOWAD.

However, the court directed Mr Desai to file an affidavit after the meeting as per orders of the court.

UNI ARM KU YA BST2318