By IANS
Mumbai : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday handed over a Rs.4 billion cheque as the first of three instalments for a project to improve the city’s overstretched storm water drainage system.
Speaking at a function here, after handing over the cheque for the Brihan Mumbai Storm Water Drainage (BRIMSTOWAD) project, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), saying that the single largest initiative for urban development has been benefiting large number of people.
Maharashtra has been a frontrunner in urban renewal with 46 projects amounting to Rs.61.12 billion. In Mumbai alone, there are 10 JNNURM projects being implemented at a cost of Rs.27.32 billion, covering water supply, sewerage, drainage and urban transport. He called for creative process of urbanizing to ensure better quality of life.
The ambitious Rs.18 billion drainage project is aimed at improving Mumbai’s storm drainage system that is 150 years old. The system was designed to handle 25 mm of rain per hour, while the current requirement is 50 mm per hour. Apart from widening and deepening rivers and drains, the project also provides for eight storm water pumping stations.
The project, which faced funding problems, was submitted to the central government to take up the balance work worth Rs.12 billion. The centre accepted the proposal and agreed to disburse funds in three instalments.
Mayor Shubha Raul Friday received the first instalment of Rs.4 billion. Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan were among those present on the occasion.