BMC clears Rs 9.5cr plan to beautify pumping station
Mumbai: The BMC standing committee on T u e s d ay cleared a Rs 9.5 crore proposal to beautify the Panjarapur pumping station despite opposition from several corporators. Many members said that the facility is located 77 km away from the city and, therefore, should not be on the administrations priority list for civic works.
About 40% of Mumbais water supply comes from Panjarapur and Pise. The BMC, with a view to provide an aesthetic look to the newly-constructed water supply complex, is proposing to beautify the pumping station and surrounding areas of Panjarapur. This is part of the well-known and important Mumbai III-A Water Supply project.
Children studying in BMC schools dont have enough facilities. Our workers are living in inhuman conditions at civic quarters. Why cant the administration spend this money on their development? In any case, who will travel 77 km out of the city to see this beautification work? asked Yogesh Sagar of the BJP.
But BMC officials said the project would provide relief to hundreds of employees who work at the station and dont get facilities on par with their counterparts working at pumping stations in Mumbai. Are these people human? Dont they deserve the benefits of BMC facilities? said Congress corporator Waquarunnisa Ansari.
The project would be completed in nine months, civic officials said. It is the BMCs responsibility to take care of all its assets, whether in or outside Mumbai, said additional municipal commissioner Manu Kumar Srivastava.