The Centre has cleared the Rs1,329.5 crore Middle Vaitarna project, which will augment supply to ensure that some areas receive water throughout the day.
There is some good news for 1.4 crore Mumbai citizens who cope with ever constricting water supply. The Centre has cleared the Rs1,329.5 crore Middle Vaitarna project, which will augment supply to such an extent that some areas will receive water throughout the day. The project, approved on Thursday, envisages the provision of 455 million litres of water a day by 2011.
The Greater Mumbai IV Middle Vaitarna Water Supply Project was given the green signal at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The project will be set up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. Initially, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2006; according to the revised plan, work will begin in the next three months.
The Centre will meet 35 per cent (Rs465.33 crore) of the cost, while the Maharashtra government will contribute 15 per cent (Rs199.42 crore). Both contributions will come in the form of grants. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) will bear the remaining 50 per cent (Rs664.75 crore).
The CCEA also approved the release of the grant amount that will be considered as additional central assistance.
At present, 3,300 million litres of water is available to MCGM from various sources situated at distances ranging from 80km to 160km. The projected demand for water is estimated to be 4300 million litres a day in 2011. Once the project becomes operational, Mumbai’s dependence on expensive private water supply, secured through tankers, will come down drastically, Chidambaram said.
“We are grateful to the state and central governments for sanctioning the largest project so far under JNNURM,” Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph said. “The water-shortage problem will be solved by 2011, when we get an additional 455 million litres a day from Middle Vaitarna. Moreover, an additional 155 mld will be provided in next three months by the Mumbai 3A project.”
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Project) Manu Srivastav said the BMC has been given permission to use internal loan for the project costs, including the contingency and consultancy charges.
Standing Committee Chairman Ravindra Waikar said the BMC has adequate resources. “We can use 50 per cent of our fund to complete the project,” he said. “We do not need loans from outsiders. The tendering process will be start by next month.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}