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Mumbai: BMC Keeps Aside Gargai Dam Project, Prefers Seawater Desalination

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To address the annual water shortages and eliminate water cuts, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been exploring options for augmenting water resources. Two potential solutions emerged: desalination of seawater and the development of the Gargai water resources into a dam, supplying water to the Modak Sagar Lake.

Preventing Tree Cutting for Gargai Dam

The BMC’s study indicated that the construction of the Gargai dam would require the felling of approximately 2.5 lakh trees. With a focus on preserving the environment, the BMC has decided to prioritise the establishment of seawater desalination plants instead. The tendering process for the desalination project is expected to commence within the next two to three months.

“The study of BMC shows that around 2.5 lakh trees need to be cut to construct Gargai dam and we want to save those trees. Therefore, We have given first preference to the desalination of seawater plants. Tenders for the desalination project will be floated in the next two to three months

“On the other hand, a company has been selected for the construction of Gargai dam and a tender document is also being prepared. Thereafter, the permission of the state government will be taken and then work will begin. The estimated time of construction of Gargai dam is three years,” Additional Municipal Commissioner, (Project) P Velrasu said.

Progress on Gargai Dam Construction

Concurrently, the BMC has selected a company for the construction of the Gargai dam, and preparations for the tender document are underway. Once the state government grants permission, construction work on the Gargai dam is scheduled to begin. The estimated timeframe for completing the dam is three years.

Current Water Resources and Supply

To cater to the water needs of Mumbai, the city relies on seven dams: Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Madhya Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vihar, and Tulsi. These lakes collectively hold 14 lakh 47 million litres of water. The BMC supplies 3850 million litres of potable water daily, while the actual demand stands at 4200 million litres per day. The Hydraulic department of the BMC regularly assesses water stocks and formulates water management plans for the year.

Annual Water Cuts and Reserve Water Usage

During May and June, the BMC traditionally seeks permission from the state government to utilize reserve water stock from the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna lakes. Last year, all lake levels dipped by 11%, prompting the BMC to implement a 10% water cut in Mumbai. However, heavy rainfall in July led to the withdrawal of water cuts after 12 days. This year, the city is once again at risk of facing water cuts.

Maharashtra

Kasara mumbra railway accident Media is not interested in general issues: Raj Thackeray

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray described the Kasara Mumbra train accident as unfortunate and said that travelling by railway is the most difficult thing. In the evening, the platform is so crowded that it is difficult to board the trains. Despite this, passengers travel by railway. There is no planning in the cities. This is the reason why the condition of the railway is poor. Accidents happen to those travelling by railway every day. Cities are only building skyscrapers in the name of development projects, in which there is no parking arrangement. The traffic problem is the same as it is. The traffic problem in Mumbai and Pune police stations is very worrying.

The burden of passengers on the railway has increased. There is no separate arrangement for the people of Mumbai in the railways. The condition of the passengers is bad, but the media has nothing to do with these problems. Instead of running the news of when Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray will come together, if they had drawn the government’s attention to these problems, a solution would have been found. Cities will not develop with metro and monorail alone. Despite metro and monorail, vehicle registration has not stopped. There is no study of who travels by metro and monorail. The problem of traffic on the roads still persists. In such a situation, there is a need to pay attention to urban problems. I demand the Ministry of Railways to pay attention to this.

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Maharashtra

Hunger strike against installation of cement pillars on Kurla Sheetal Pond

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Mumbai: Local slum dwellers have started a phased hunger strike in an attempt to hide slums due to the beautification of Kurla Sheetal Pond. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Pond is a religious pond and Ganpati and Devi are immersed here. This year, cement pillars have been installed on the banks of the pond to hide the slum dwellers adjacent to the pond, which has angered the people.

Nationalist Congress Party Ajit Pawar Group leader and social activist Ghanshyam Bhapkar had started a hunger strike on this issue, but due to his deteriorating condition, he was taken to the hospital. But now local people have started joining this hunger strike. Now this hunger strike has turned into a phased hunger strike. Ghanshyam Bhapkar, who is on hunger strike, alleges that this work has been done to hide the slums, whereas if any accident happens, it will be difficult for the slum dwellers to escape and this also endangers the safety of the residents. There is opposition to this project, but the BMC administration is adamant and the work is going on, that is why we are also on a hunger strike. When Assistant Municipal Commissioner of Kurla L Ward Dhanji Harlekar was asked about this matter, he did not receive the call. Bhapakar has alleged that the people living in slums are worried about these cement pillars. This work has been done only to hide the slums, which is not acceptable to the public. He said that if there is a fire in Sangdewadi, then this is the only route from where people can be evacuated, but this is also being stopped. Making serious allegations, Bhapakar has called it a conspiracy to close the way to Sheetal Lake for the people living in slums. A campaign has been started to save Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Lake and a hunger strike is also going on in this regard.

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Maharashtra

CSMT-bound train accident: 5 passengers die after falling from train, CM Fadnavis offers condolences, Railways department to conduct inquiry

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Mumbai: 10 passengers in a fast local running from Thane Mumbra Kasara to CSMT were hit by an express train when both the trains were passing. The accident occurred at 9:25 am. About 5 passengers died in this accident. These passengers fell down from the train, out of which one died on the spot. A total of 13 passengers were injured in this accident. In this accident, 2017 batch GRP officer Vicky Mukhildar died in the accident in Mumbra. According to information received from sources, the Paspak Express was traveling with a passenger hanging on the gate, which due to jumping in the air, hit the passengers standing at the gate of the local train and the balance of the passengers of the local train was disturbed, due to which 9 people were seriously injured and five passengers died. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis his condolences over the accident at the local station. He said that this accident is very sad. Our condolences to the families of those who died in this accident. He said that the injured were taken to Shivaji Hospital in Thane and their treatment is ongoing. Devendra Fadnavis said that the Railway Department will investigate how the accident happened.

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