BMC set to launch AMRUT water project in Mumbai

One of its biggest comprehensive projects ever, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to launch a Central Government initiative for Mumbai called the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The civic body has sent a proposal in this regard to the Central Government. According to this Rs 28 thousand crore project, the BMC will undertake a massive drive to redevelop and improve the drinking water provisions in the city and the city's sewerage management network. Mumbai is one of the cities in Maharashtra selected by the state government for the AMRUT project.

According to the directive principles sketched out by the central government for Amrut Yojana, the Ministry of Urban Development will approve an annual action plan. Cities which have a population of more than 10 lakh, will be given one third of the required funds from the central government. The remaining amount will be spent by the state government and the concerned civic body or from private investments.

The capital for this project is divided into four parts: 80 per cent of it has been allotted for the project; 10 per cent has been allotted for renovation of existing structures; eight per cent will be spent on administrative work and two per cent will be spent on administrative work concerning the Ministry of Urban Development.

Besides, the Central Government has clarified that allotted funds will be used for capacity building, renovation of existing structures, drinking water supply installing, sewerage pipelines, roads and traffic and maintenance of gardens and green patches.

Of the Rs 28 thousand crore allotted for the project, 17.5 thousand crores will be used for drinking water supply. The remaining sum will be utilized for sewerage management. About seven thousand crores will be used for Mumbai sewerage disposal projects at Ghatkopar, Colaba, Bhandup, Versova, Malad, Worli and Bandra. Rs 1684 thousand crore will be used for improving sewerage operations including up-gradation of pumping and maintenance equipment and providing rehabilitation. Rs 1794 thousand crore will be utilized for sewerage projects like rehabilitating existing sewer pipelines and setting up new ones.

Part of the plan to improve drinking water supply involves construction of Gargai Dam project and Pinjal Dam Project, conducting structural repairs to Ghatkopar Low level Reservoir and Veravali II Reservoir. The project will include re-engineering of the Virar treatment Plant. It will also set up a 24 hour helpline for customer relationship management at the ward level.

According to local political leaders in the BMC, the CAG has rapped the BMC for Rs 180 crore spent on consultants over the past decade. The discussion over it was held at the group leaders' meeting on Friday. "The BMC had appointed consultants for the Mumbai Sewerage Disposal Project for construction of 7 sewage treatment plants 2005 onwards. Around Rs 180 crore was spent on it. CAG has rapped the civic body for it since none of the plants were constructed. We too have demanded that the commissioner hold someone accountable for this," said Samajwadi party corporator Raees Shaikh.