Urban News

Migration cannot be stopped as it is guaranteed as a fundamental right in the Constitution, Chavan said. “We’ll conduct a third-party audit of slums every two years. We’ll survey the slums and go for satellite mapping. Local officials will be made accountable for proliferation of slums in the area under their jurisdiction...a special cell will be created in the housing department to monitor slums.”

He reiterated the government would develop Koliwadas and merge the three categories of old buildings (those built before 1940; those between 1940 and 1950; and those between 1950 and 1969) and grant uniform FSI for their reconstruction.

When Shiv Sena members alleged the MMRDA, headed by the Chief Minister, was belittling the Sena-controlled BMC, Chavan said the latter was not equipped to tackle the needs arising out of the rapid urbanisation in and around Mumbai. “The BMC is facing a deficit of Rs 600 crore,” he said, “How can it handle development on such a large scale?”

He mentioned schemes undertaken by the MMRDA: a rental housing project with five lakh homes, and four new water projects: Shahi (estimated cost Rs 306 crore), Pinjal (Rs 267 crore), Poshir (Rs 520 crore) and Shalu (Rs 451 crore).

Chavan said the water distribution network is being improved by replacing old pipelines and creating three tunnels. The Centre has provided Rs 1,200 crore for the BRIMSTOWAD project. On concerns about mangrove destruction, he said committees headed by respective collectors would be formed for their protection.

During 2008-09, the Road Division was among the worst performers. While the Road Division 1 had spent 54 per cent of funds, the Road Division 2 managed to spend only 47.9 per cent. Around Rs 61.24 crore was allocated to Road Division 1 of which Rs 33.15 crore was spent. While Rs 46.11 crore was allocated to Road Division 2, of which Rs 22.10 was spent.

Public Health Division 1 could spend around 62 per cent of the budgetary allocation. The expenditure of all four divisions of public health was around 79 per cent of the budget allocated.

The situation was a little better in 2007-08 when the Road Division 1 and 2 had managed to spend 71.27 and 75.24 per cent of their funds, respectively. The Electrical Division had spent 63 per cent while the Public Health Division 4 had spent 62 per cent of their budgetary allocation. The horticulture division had been the most efficient with 98 per cent of the budget being spent.

Councillor Kamlesh said though it was not possible to spend all the budget, there needs to be more efficiency. “Councillors approve development work for different areas. It is up to the officials to execute it. When tenders are not allotted even after the approval of work, the amount allocated for these is not utilized. There is a need to plug the gaps in the expenditure and allocation,” she says. 

The issue has been raised a number of times in the House meetings of the civic body. The officials have often stated that the projects approved are far more than can be executed in a year. There are some projects that were proposed many years ago, however the execution is pending. Budgetary allocations for these are made every year.

The issue had also been raised when the budget for the current fiscal year was presented. The figures stated that while Rs 65 crore had been spent by the civic body from April to December 2009, the estimates for January to March 2010 were projected at Rs 74 crore. Councillors had raised objections to this, asking officials to justify how more money can be spent in three months than had been spent in eight months. Mayor Anu Chatrath says that during the current financial year, for two months no new tenders could be invited as e-tendering was to be initiated. She added that with the system in place they are certain to complete most of the proposed works.