Mid-Day

Mumbai, Jun 1: Clogged nullahs, like the one on top, led to excessive flooding (above) in many low-lying areas
In a startling revelation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says it’s short of Rs 1,800 crore, needed to complete the widening and de-silting of nullahs, which would facilitate better drainage of storm waters.

The BMC says it’s also short of engineers to execute the work.

The Centre, however, can contribute only 35 per cent of the required amount — Rs 630 crore — as a grant. The BMC can expect another Rs 270 crore from the state. This effectively means that the BMC has to cough up the remaining Rs 900 crore.

BMC Deputy Chief Engineer (storm water drains) DS Ghorpade tells MiD DAY, “The BMC has been pleading with the central government since November last year to give us Rs 1,800 crore for the various works under storm water drain projects of the city and its suburbs. But till now, we have not received a single paise from them.”

Ghorpade said the BMC needs Rs 1,200 crore for the projects and Rs 600 crore for rehabilitation of affected people. Ghorpade further says, “Even if we receive the money, we don’t have the sufficient number of engineers to execute the huge amount of work. Once we have the funds, we will appoint private consultants to complete the work.”

Adds Assistant Engineer PR Mhatre (storm water drains), “A project report was submitted to the Centre in November, 2005, but it has yet to approve the request.”
 
Yet to be done

Western surburbs
- Reconstruction of Mogra nullah system in Andheri K-East and K-West wards
- Construction of Shastri Nagar nullah system from Link Road to Oshiwara Creek in P-South ward, Goregaon (W)
- Construction of nullah in the bed of the Dahisar river
- Cleaning and improvement of storm water drains (SWD) and nullahs near the Vakola river system (Santacruz) and    the Kherwadi nullah (Bandra)

Eastern suburbs
- Widening, improving, remodelling of Nehru Nagar nullah system (Kurla)
- Improvement of SWD in and around Chunabhatti
- Widening of Mahul Creek from Tansa Main to BPT Bridge, M-West  Ward — Chembur
- Widening and remodelling of Usha Nagar nullah, Bhandup
- Improvement of nullahs in Mulund and Chembur

City
- Rehabilitation of SWD system at Britannia Outfall, Reay Road; PB Marg; Lovegrove Outfall, Mumbai Central, Dr E Moses Road, Lovegrove Outfall at Worli
- Diversion of drain along Sane Guruji Marg at Mumbai Central from Tardeo junction, leading to Haji Ali
 
 
What? The BMC is short of Rs 1,800 crore
For? Completion of de-silting, widening of nullahs
Also: Needs more engineers to execute task
And? Says Centre is sitting on its appeal for funds