Shiv Sena-BJP promises housing to civic employees, PAPs

Mumbai, Jan 23 (UNI) The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has promised housing complexes to the civic employees and project affected slum dwellers, if voted back to power in Asia's largest and richest civic body.

The Saffron combine, which is making a determined bid to retain its bastion for the third consecutive time, in its ''vachan nama (manifesto)'' promised the civic administration will procure the salt pans in Mumbai for construction of houses for civic employees and project affected slum dwellers.

Speaking to reporters after releasing the manifesto, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray said the issue of burgeoning population of immigrants had to be dealt with at an all party level.

''It is not a question of just one party or civic body. The Central government and the state administration needs to look at the issue in a full perspective. Shiv Sena will pursue the matter with the state government,'' he added.

Similarly, chemical processing units in residential areas would be stopped and strict rules to prevent such units from coming up would be formulated, he added.

Mr Thackeray said the Shiv Sena-BJP would seek to ensure that the proposed Metro Railway to be run on a no-profit-no loss basis by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport (BEST) which looks after the bus service in Mumbai and the electricity supply in the city.

''If run privately, the ticket fare will be too costly as compared to BEST,'' he added.

Mr Thackeray said Shiv Sena-BJP would stress for the rehabilitation of the people affected by the Metro Rail project on priority basis before the actual works begins. ''We will ensure that all project affected families get alternate means of livelihood and shelter and hence would demand control of the civic body on the project,'' he added.

The manifesto was released by Mr Thackeray and BJP leader Gopinath Munde at Shiv Sena Bhavan here this afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Sena-BJP leaders converged at the residence of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray ''Matoshree'' in suburban Mumbai and the formal release was done at the hands of senior Mr Thackeray, who completed 80 years of age today.

Mr Munde, while releasing the manifesto, said the Saffron combine leaders had promised Mr Bal Thackeray of a good performance in the polls.

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