Centre to give Rs 1,200 cr for Mumbai project, BRIMSTOWAD: PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Centre would meet the entire cost of Rs 1,200 crore of the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drainage Project (BRIMSTOWAD) to deal with the problem of flooding in the financial capital of the country.

The decision was taken after a review of the major projects for Mumbai taken by the Prime Minister, the PM's Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru said in a statement.

With this decision, the last hurdle for taking up this project, promised by the Prime Minister to residents of the city, has been cleared, Dr Baru said.

Today's meeting was attended by Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chauhan, Principal Secretary to PM T K A Nair, Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission, Secretaries from Ministries of Finance and Urban Development, Department of IPP and other officials.

The other projects that came up for review included Mumbai Sewerage Disposal Project Phase II, Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) and Mumbai Metro Projects -- Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Corridor, Coloba-Bandra-Charkop Corridor and Mahim -Mankhurd Corridor.

There were several other projects which were reviewed. These were Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Projects (MUIP), Transfer of Salt Pan land to Government of Maharashtra, Middle Vaitarna Water Supply Project for Mumbai IV, Development and Protection of Mithi River and its surroundings, Worli Bandra Sea Link Project, Mumbai Trans-harbour Link and Thane Metro.

The Prime Minister directed that Mumbai's development needs should receive a very high priority, and its problems redressed without any delay. He directed that expeditious approval be given to the Middle Vaitarna Water Supply Project for Mumbai IV and Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Projects under JNNURM by October/November 2006.

Negotiations for the Phase-II of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project would be completed in a month.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the status of 5378 acres of salt pan lands in the suburbs of Mumbai.

It was decided that efforts of various Central and State agencies be coordinated and urgent measures evolved for using these lands for rehabilitation of slum dwellers. The vacation of land of public projects presently under occupation by slum dwellers would also be facilitated. This would be a major step for the welfare of slum dwellers, the PMO statement said.

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