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BMC fails to win heart (thus money) of central government, Mithi river rejuvenation may be stalled

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims it has already completed around 60% of the work on the project.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is on the verge of losing all hope of receiving Rs 1,670 crore for the Mithi river rejuvenation project from the central government.

The 2005 deluge in Mumbai had resulted in an estimated loss of over Rs 1,000 crore. Following the incident, a comprehensive plan to restore the city's choked water body was undertaken with the formation of Mithi River Development and Protection Authority (MPDPA). The work involves the 17.83km-long river's rejuvenation by deepening and widening it, and its beautification. Accordingly, the work has been split between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (6.4 km) and the BMC (11.43 km).

The civic body, which claims to have completed around 60% of the work, now fears that it is not likely to get the central government funds. The fear arose after the latest meeting between BMC officials and central ministry, which failed lead to anything comprehensive and conclusive. According to the information, the civic body failed to win the heart (and, therefore, money) of the union ministry.

"Not much transpired from the meeting. We gave a presentation on the work carried out on Mithi, followed by the scope of work remaining with the timeline," a senior BMC official said. He added that the bone of contention over the project remained with the Centre rejecting provision of funds on the ground that since Mithi is a river it does not qualify for funding under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme.

The BMC had sent a revised proposal in 2010, requesting for the funding to be granted under "additional central assistance". "And since then, we have been following it up, holding meetings, but the matter is still not resolved. The most recent correspondence was two days back, when my team had gone to New Delhi," said chief engineer of the storm water drain department Laxman Vhatkar.

He added that around 1,960 mt-long service road work has been completed and 1,0467 mt work is remaining, while other widening and deepening work too is over.

The BMC has spent Rs 28.97 crore for the first phase and Rs 573.89 crore on the second phase. The total cost, including bridge work, is approximately Rs 1,239.60 crore. "And so far, we haven't received a single penny," Vhatkar rued, adding that the civic body has also called tenders worth Rs 670 crore.

The civic body is expected to fast track the encroachment removal procedure from the banks of the river after monsoon, in October.

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