State approves Chitale report on 26/7

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday  approved the Chitale committee report that studied last year's floods in Mumbai and its suburbs.

The committee recommended that no central government organisation undertake construction or reclamation of land in the city and suburbs without approval from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

A meeting of the state cabinet here approved in principle the recommendations of the fact-finding committee, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said.

The state government has decided to set up a high-level steering committee, headed by state Chief Secretary D K Shankaran, to implement recommendations of the Chitale committee, Deshmukh said.

The Chitale committee has also suggested that permission of the rain water drainage department be made mandatory for undertaking any construction in the city and its suburbs, he said.

Keeping in view future requirements, the committee has also suggested additional gated outfalls and additional pumping stations and gates at Powai Vihar lake on the lines of Singapore's marina barrage, he said.

Asked if the measures taken by the authorities to avoid recurrence of the situation faced by Mumbai in last year's floods were adequate, the Chief Minister replied in the affirmative.