A high-powered French delegation called on chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday and offered technological and other assistance in the development of infrastructure in Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra. It was led by Paul Hermelin, special representative of French president Francois Hollande, on economic relationship with India, and included French ambassador Francois Richier and consul general Jean-Raphael Peytregnet.
Among the areas where the delegation offered support was urban transport, urban planning, city engineering, urban lighting and eco-friendly energy development, including solar energy.
The French already have presence in several areas in Maharashtra. For example, Mumbai Metro has been developed with French collaboration. In 2011, French firm Veolia was awarded India's first public-private partnership for the management of Nagpur's entire water supply. Called the Orange City Water Project, this involves renovation, operation and maintenance of six drinking water production plants that collectively produce 750 million litres per day of drinking water and the refurbishment and construction of 2,500 km of pipelines. Among other things, all slums will be connected to the safe water network.
The delegation is keen on replicating this project in Mumbai and other cities. Lumiplan has proposed a city bus service optimisation programme, which it is already implementing in Mysore for the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation.
Speaking to media persons, Richier said French companies could play a major role in the transformation of Mumbai and make it world-class. Asked about French company Areva's atomic energy project in Jaitapur, Richier said all the clearances, including the one relating to environment, were in place. He said since certain fears were raised after the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, the French government ordered a fresh audit of safety in all atomic installations in France, and Areva also revisited its proposed safety norms for Jaitapur. Land acquisition is also complete and work can start any day now.
However, three issues remain to be resolved; clarifications regarding the nuclear civil liabilities law, price of the power to be generated and the import of an important component for the plant from Japan. He said certain clauses of the civil liabilities law "were of concern not only to Areva but also to Indian firms collaborating in the project".
"Up to 40% of work will be given to Indian firms," he added, and, regarding the anti-Jaitapur agitation, hoped it would be resolved soon.
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