Countering Shiv Sena's anti-migrant stand, chief minister Ashok Chavan today said the city welcomed everyone, provided they do not "encroach on the land illegally".
"We welcome one and all to the city of Mumbai, provided they come legally and do not encroach on the land or build illegal structures," he said addressing a gathering at a function to inaugurate new train services at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) here.
The chief minister felt Mumbaikars were free to roam anywhere in the country. "There is no restriction on Mumbaikars to go in different parts of the country, they can go anywhere from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh or to Bihar," he said.
Chavan was reacting to Shiv Sena leader and Mumbai mayor Shraddha Jadhav's remarks that "the State government must take care to curb the influx of migrants."
He, however, evaded a reply on the controversy over the missing bulletproof jacket worn by slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare and said, "the home ministry will answer about it."
On the occasion, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Duronto Express and Dadar-Varanasi Superfast Express were flagged off, services of the Nagpur Gaya Dikshabhumi Express was extended to the Sri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Kolhapur on one side and to Dhanbad on the other, and frequency of the Mumbai-Amravati Express and Pune-Patna Express was increased.
Asked about the water crisis in the metropolis, Chavan said, "All political parties must work jointly to resolve water crisis. The State government will extend all possible help to the MCGM in tackling the crisis."
There is an acute need for water conservation in the time of such crisis, he added.
Justifying water cuts in Mumbai, Chavan said, it had to be imposed because of scanty rainfall and low water levels in the lakes. He asked the civic body to take measures to curb water thefts and improve distribution.
Quizzed about the water mafia operating in the city, Chavan said, "Earlier there was not much attention given to water mafia as there was no water problem in the city. But we would ensure that a proper enquiry will be done followed by a strict action."
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