Mumbai: Opposition BJP in the Maharashtra
Assembly today said Mumbai can`t take any more population and
asked the ruling Congress-NCP alliance to spell out its
long-term vision and plan for the metropolis.
A time-bound action plan was necessary for improving the
civic amenities, basic infrastructure and augmenting power
generation and water supply to make the city a better place to
live in, Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said while
speaking on a debate in the House on issues related to Mumbai.
"The biggest threat comes from global warming. If the sea
level rises by even one per cent, half of Mumbai will be under
the water."
"The environmental balance in Mumbai has collapsed,"
Khadse said, adding the financial capital cannot take the
burden of more population.
"The burden of Mumbai needs to be eased. The offices
should be shifted out of the city," he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader demanded a probe to know
whether the mill owners have paid dues to their workers before
closing down the units. "If their dues are still pending, the
government should not give permission for re-development (of
mills)."
He alleged that there was?a nexus between officials of
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA),
a government agency, and private real estate developers.
"How can you explain senior MHADA officials resigning
from their jobs after a few years and joining real estate
companies" he asked.
MHADA officials have been preparing housing schemes in
such a way that they benefit the builders, Khadse alleged.
The Opposition leader wondered why no report of the Slum
Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), a government body tasked with
re-development of slums, has been ever presented to the
Legislature.
"We get annual reports of other agencies like MMRDA
and CIDCO, but not SRA."
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will reply to the debate
tomorrow.
PTI
