The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has sought yet another extension for the Mithi river rejuvenation project citing reasons such as pending clearances from the Environment Ministry and encroachment. The work was supposed to be completed by December 2010,but the deadline was pushed to March 2011. Now,the development authority has asked for an extension till December 2011. Of the 17.4-km Mithi stretch in the city,11 km is under BMC and six km under MMRDA. The Airports Authority of India has 400 metres. In December 2009,the MMRDA had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Urban Development for Rs 1,657 crore as Additional Central Assistance for the project. Though most of the widening and deepening work is complete,the MMRDA is struggling to construct retaining walls and a service road. According to MMRDA officials,area specific problems are causing a delay this time. For instance,at Mahim Causeway where the MMRDA is to construct the service road,it needs the Ministry of Environment and Forests clearance. We are in regular touch with the forest department. A team of officials from MoEF is supposed to come for a site visit this year, said D U Gajbhiye,superintending engineer,MMRDA. The Mahim Causeway,to be constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),has itself run into trouble with the kolis,backed by the Shiv Sena,opposing construction of a new bridge fearing it will displace them. The garages along the LBS Marg are also posing a problem to the Mithi project. Around 20 garages are to be removed for construction of the retaining wall. Similar is the case with the Parigh Khadi area where the MMRDA still has more than 270 structures to raze for construction of a service road. The MMRDA has still not been able to provide Right of Way for a bridge near the MTNL side as it houses godowns. Sources said the issue is unlikely to be resolved soon as some of the owners have approached the court. Similar is the case with Kapadia Nagar where more than 40 structures have to be razed. Near Bharat Nagar,where the MMRDA had demolished shanties and given accomodation to Project Affected People,fresh encroachments have come up. Another hurdle is at the Vakola nalla where the MMRDA is finding it difficult to make way for a service road as the slums have gone ahead with Slum Rehabilitation scheme and the plan does not accomodate a service road.
