Collector’s office gives BMC crucial no-objection certificate and work order
MANOJ R NAIR
Amajor hurdle in the Cross Maidan restoration plan has been removed with
the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) agreeing to shift the site of
an underground water tunnel’s mouth to a corner of the ground.
The 3.6 km-long tunnel, with one km of its length running under the sea,
will bring water from the Malabar Hill reservoir to Cross Maidan to augment
water supply in south Mumbai. The Rs 157 crore tunnelling work, planned to
end at Cross Maidan, delayed the restoration project for the ground.
“The tunnel shaft was to built in such a location that it would have to
cut into the garden and obstruct the new layout,” said Nayana Kathpalia of
Organisation for Verdant Ambience and Land (OVAL) Trust that had signed an
memorandum of understanding with the city collectorate to restore the
southern edge of the ground.
“But the problem has now been resolved with the BMC agreeing to shift
the mouth of the tunnel to a corner of the ground,” he added.
The restoration project was planned as early as December 2003 but was
delayed due to paucity of funds and delay in granting permissions. Last
year, the ground was cleared of hawkers and encroaches so that restoration
work could start. The plan includes new lawns, pathways and heritage
fencing, which is expected to cost Rs 1.5 crore. According to OVAL Trust,
since all permissions, including a go-ahead from the municipal heritage
committee are in order now, the restoration work can start once some minor
technical hurdles are resolved.
When asked about the tunnel project, Additional Municipal Commissioner
(Projects) M K Srivastava said, “The issue has been resolved and the shaft
will be dug in a corner of the ground so that the restoration work is not
jeopardised.”
The collector’s office has now given the BMC its no-objection
certificate to start the tunnelling work. “We have given the work orders for
the project,” said an official.
The work was expected to start in June. But BMC officials now say that
the work will start only after the end of the rainy season.
The restoration project was planned as early as December 2003 but was
delayed due to paucity of funds and delay in granting permissions