Will BMC drains project get full aid from Centre?
Mumbai: THE Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government to clarify whether it will grant 100 per cent budget allocation for the Rs 1,800-crore BRIMSTOWAD (Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drains) project that envisages overhauling the city’s drainage system.
Hearing a set of public interest litigations filed by Dr Sandeep Rane and others, a division bench of Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde said the court would pass appropriate orders if the Centre did clarify its stand. The Central Government has to clarify if it will give a 100 per cent grant or if the budget will have to be divided between the Centre, the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Additional Solicitor General B A Desai sought two weeks’ time to clarify the Centre’s stand. The case will come up for hearing on September 14.
Assistant Government Pleader Rajendra Sawant informed the court that the Centre had agreed to allocating 100 per cent of the budget.
Appearing for the BMC, senior counsel K K Singhvi said the BMC has already allocated Rs 280 crore for Phase I of BRIMSTOWAD and that the first phase, which was scheduled to be completed by March 31 next year, was almost complete.
Justice Lodha said the project should not be stuck due to want of resources and added that it has to be completed.
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