Rs 900 crore owed to BMC can help fund new pipeline

If government and private organisations that owe the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dues for water consumption pay up, the corporation can use the money to fund a mega pipeline replacement project to avoid leaks and pipe bursts.

If government and private organisations that owe the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dues for water consumption pay up, the corporation can use the money to fund a mega pipeline replacement project to avoid leaks and pipe bursts.

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Various bodies including the state government, the Railways and private firms owe the BMC Rs 915 crore.

This sum can help the BMC fund the 80-km Tansa pipeline replacement project. It can also be used was projects like theme parks, the Mumbai eye, beautification of gardens and road work stalled this year due to a financial crunch.

Minister for Urban Development, Bhaskar Jadhav, said this in the Assembly in reply to a question raised by Shiv Sena legislator Suryakant Dalvi and others, alleging that non payment of these dues will add to the BMC’s financial woes and affect the work carried out by its hydraulic department.

Sena Member of Legislative Assembly, Ravindra Waikar, alleged that the state owed the BMC Rs 713 crore for all civic services.

Jadhav responded saying the BMC also owed the state Rs 307 crore for various services. Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, intervened in the debate and said the state will set up a committee to coordinate between the state and BMC and ensure that dues were repaid in time.

The Railways and other central organisations owe the BMC Rs 184 crore as water dues, the state owes it Rs 42.42 crore, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority owes it 145.71 crore, while private consumers owe Rs 537.51 crore.