Finance minister satisfied with agency's work

Maharashtra Finance Minister and Guardian Minister for Mumbai district Jayant Patil feels the Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority (MMRDA), the nodal agency for desilting the Mithi river and ensuring the river doesn't flood during the monsoons, has done a satisfactory job.

Patil was quizzed by reporters today on the flooding of the Mithi during the June 30 rain. The rain claimed six lives. After taking into consideration suggestions of many experts and committees, the Mithi River Development Authority (MRDA - created under the aegis of the MMRDA) the tenders to desilt the river could be released only in April.

Considering that of the nearly three million cubic feet of silt, nearly 4 lakh tonnes were removed by the MMRDA within two months, it has done a satisfactory job.

Admitting that when operations began a few days ago, the silt was dumped on the banks of the river itself, Patil said, "When contractors started operations, the dumping ground had not been earmarked. So some instances of dumping silt on the banks had happened. Subsequently, it was removed from the banks and taken to the dumping ground."

The floods were not caused because of the silt getting deposited on the river bed, he added.

The war of words was witnessed between secretary of the Public Works Department K S Jangde and Patil during the press conference.

Replying to a question, Jangde said, during the 2005 floods, damages of Rs 685 crore were caused to the state¿s roads and bridges. Of this, only repair works of Rs 380 crore could be carried out during the last two years and the slow pace of work was due to a lack of funds.

Patil refuted the claims of Jangde and said, "In the 2005-2006 budget, Rs 300 crore were made available for repairs of damaged roads and bridges, and for rest of the work the department was told they should spend from their regular funds."

Earlier, addressing reporters, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Patangrao Kadam said, "Cabinet committee on relief and rehabilitation has decided to redraw the flood line, considering the changing pattern of monsoons, building dams and other changed geographical, meteorological and topographical factors."

After the flood line is determined, a survey of people living in the flood lines will be carried out and they will be rehabilitated. However, if it is found that once the rehabilitated families again start living within the floodline no compensation will be given, he added.

Nearly 80 persons have died and 10,000 families in various districts had to be evacuated to safer places in the last few days due to torrential rains and subsequent floods. Almost 2,000 villages across the state have been affected by the rains, said Kadam.