CM Shinde to state officials: Explore use of salt pan lands for development

Eknath Shinde

Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde has ordered officials to explore the possibility of the use of salt pan lands for public purposes. The CM also asked for the submission of an action plan to reduce solid waste from dumping grounds.

On Thursday Shinde held a meeting in the presence of the state government and civic officials at Varsha Bungalow. Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attended via video conference, along with central government officials. During the meeting, Shinde ordered civic officials to explore the possibility of using salt pan lands for public purposes, without harming the environment. According to available data, there are around 5,500 acres of salt pan land, with most of it coming under the non-development zone.

Meanwhile, central government officials made a presentation regarding the latest technology for the disposal of solid waste on dumping grounds, after which Shinde ordered civic officials to prepare an action plan to implement the latest technology to treat solid waste at dumping grounds. "The CM suggested starting a waste-to-energy project at the Kanjurmarg waste processing centre. The Kanjurmarg processing centre and Deonar dumping ground are currently in use, while the process to shut down the Mulund dumping ground has begun started," said a civic official.

Chief Secretary of State Manoj Saunik, Civic Chief I S Chahal, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department K H Govindraj and Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Sudhkar Shinde were present during the meeting. As the meeting drew to an end, the CM also ordered civic officials to hold a special cleanliness drive in December, along with an increase in manpower to keep the city clean.