Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI) BJP MLAs on Monday alleged serious mismanagement and lack of transparency by City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) of Maharashtra in handling water supply projects in Navi Mumbai and neighbouring areas.
During a debate in the state assembly, BJP member Prashant Thakur raised concerns over chronic water shortages affecting thousands of residents in Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Uran.
He claimed the incremental supply figures of CIDCO, the government’s city planning agency, were misleading and that many societies were forced to depend on water tankers, incurring crores of rupees in annual expenses.
Thakur alleged inconsistencies in official data regarding reservoir and pipeline capacities and demanded the creation of a state-level authority to coordinate water distribution among CIDCO, municipal bodies and local panchayats.
His party colleague Mahesh Baldi supported the allegations, emphasising that delays in automation projects and poor management of reservoirs were compounding the water crisis. He urged the government to ensure the timely implementation of planned supply schemes.
In response, Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal defended CIDCO’s actions, stating that short-term measures, such as utilising surplus water from Navi Mumbai reservoirs and redirecting JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) pipeline allocations, were underway.
Long-term projects, including the Savase-Vang scheme, were being implemented, she said, and assured that a tender for full automation of water supply systems had been floated, with completion expected by December 2026.
A meeting chaired by the chief minister would be held before the session concludes to resolve the water management issues, Misal added. PTI MR GK
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