PM stresses on global level infrastructure in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 31 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today stressed the need for creating a global level infrastructure in Mumbai -- the city of hope for lakhs of people and the commercial capital of the country.

Speaking at a ceremony while giving a cheque of Rs 400 crore to Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul for the much-awaited Brihanmumbai storm water drainage (BRIMSTOWAD) project as a first instalment, Dr Singh, who had stayed overnight in this city, said Mumbai has the potential to emerge as big city at the global level.

He said every year the flood fury paralyses the life of Mumbai due to its 150-year-old drainage system. In order to overcome all these problems, the Central government has sanctioned Rs 1200 crore for this project which will be completed in the next four years.

It was in 1985, the then prime minister, late Rajiv Gandhi had sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the development of Dharavi and now the Central government has sanctioned this amount.

The country is moving towards rapid urbanisation and soon at least 50 per cent of its population will be staying in the urban areas and in this situation it is essential to sort out the urban issues also, he said.

Dr Singh said 46 projects were sanctioned for Maharashtra under various schemes to the tune of Rs Rs 6,101 crore, out of which 10 projects of Rs 2,732 crore were for Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh also said so far more concentration was given to the rural issues but now the time has come to look into the problems of the urban areas also.

Mayor Shubha Raul, in her speech, demanded that the Central government should give 25 per cent amount of Rs 96,000 crore Income Tax collected from the city for its own development.

She said thousands of people come always in this city and so the infrastructure of the city always falls short to the need.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Minister of PMO Prithviraj Chavan, Petroleum minister Murli Deora, Deputy chief minister R R Patil, other ministers, MPs and MLAs were also present on the occasion.

UNI