The Asian Age: Mumbai: Saturday, July 12, 2014.
The pace of
Mithi river widening project has been tardy. The project has missed all
deadlines so far and while the river contours have no significant changes, the
only thing that seems to bulge is the contractors’ pockets.
Ever since
its commissioning in 2009, the project deadline, which was December 2010, has
been extended thrice. The project is expected to be completed by April 2017.
During this period, the cost of the project has escalated from Rs 1,657 to Rs
1,770 crore, a rise of Rs 113 crore. While the entire amount has been shared by
the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA), the Centre has not sanctioned a single penny.
This was revealed after a RTI query was filed by Anil Galgali, chairman of
Athak Seva Sangh.
Following the
26/7 deluge in Mumbai, a comprehensive plan to restore the city’s choked Mithi
river was undertaken and a Mithi River Development and Protection Authority
(MPDPA) was also formed. The work involves rejuvenation of Mithi by deepening
and widening its 17.83-km length, and its beautification. Accordingly, the work
was split between MMRDA (6.40 km) and the BMC (11.43 km).
After July
26, 2005, Rs 1,057 crore have been spent on the cleaning and development of
Mithi.
During the
nine years of the project, contractors, despite delay in works, have been paid
handsome dividends. The highest amount of Rs 236.42 crore was paid to RPF Infra
Project, followed by Reliance Michigun who got Rs 161.62 crore. Unity got Rs
105 crore, BPL-BBC Rs 104.26 crore, DBM Jiyotechnic Rs 78.09 crore, RE Infra Rs
55.88 crore, Raj company Rs 54.84 crore and Shyam Naryan Brothers Rs 23.19
crore, the RTI query revealed.
A civic
official said work on five bridges on the Mithi River has not been started as a
no-objection certificate from the environment ministry was yet to be obtained.
“These bridges have to be widened so that the flow of the river is not
obstructed. Once these bridges are completed, the Mithi river project can be
expedited,” he said.
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