Past projects gather dust, yet BMC plans Rs 1.6k cr desalination plant

Even as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray okayed a R1600 crore desalination project proposed by Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal former sanctioned projects of the BMC are gathering dust These projects were introduced by Chahals predecessors as part of their vision for the cityThe desalination plant which is to come up at Manori was okayed during Chahals meeting with Thackeray on Monday The project could provide 200 mld million litres per day water daily The CM thinks it will solve water scarcity in summerThe city gets 3800 mld water daily and around 20 per cent is lost due to leakages This is not the first time the corporation has considered a desalination project mdash an earlier one was rejected due to high costsCurrent civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal Praveen Pardeshi and Ajoy MehtaThe BMC hasnt been able to fix issues related to the centuryold water pipelines thefts There is no need for such a highcost project The BMC can save 380 mld out of 800 mld water which is lost due to leakages at a much lower cost said Ashish Shelar BJP MLAOther projectsThe civic body has a history of commissioners introducing projects that never get completed despite budgetary sanctions Former municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehtas project 36km cycle track which had a budgetary provision of R100 crore in 201819 out of the total R350crore cost The track connected to 10 Central Railway stations five Western Railway stations seven Metro and two Monorail stations was supposed to be ready in 2020 Not even the first phase of 14 kms has been completed There was an issue of encroachment along the Tansa pipeline and the matter is sub judice said BMC officerAlso ReadBMC identifies three storage spaces for COVID19 vaccine when readyChahals predecessor Praveen Pardeshi introduced the concept of Miyawaki forests and said the project would convert 64 city plots into dense forests The R35crore project was sanctioned in December 2019 and was supposed to start before monsoon Another muchtalkedabout project involving Japanese experts to construct an underground tank for rainwater inside the Bhandup complex hasnt seen the light of dayProject work takes timeProjects proposed by commissioners are scrutinised and need several approvals It takes some time to complete them under the administrative system said a former BMC chief adding To a certain extent proposals get delayed after officers leave and the enthusiasm dies down At other times there are legal issues and now the COVID19 pandemic which are beyond the administrations controlCommissioners dont come with the vision of a Mumbaikar They come with their own visions which leave with them We always give suggestions for citizens benefit but officers need to think seriously too said Ravi Raja leader of opposition in the BMCKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news