No dearth of funds to develop Bhiwandi, says Fadnavis

THANE: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said there was no dearth of funds for development of Bhiwandi town in the district.

Addressing a meeting after inaugurating the Rs62-crore Vanzarpatti Naka flyover, Fadnavis called upon citizens to take “ownership” and help development of the power-loom town.

However, senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is the public works department (PWD) minister and Thane’s Guardian Minister, was conspicuous by his absence in the programme.

Fadnavis also laid the foundation stone for the Rs-125 crore Rajiv Gandhi-Saibaba flyover in Bhiwandi.

The Chief Minister said a city that has proper infrastructure but is not clean, neat and hygienic cannot be considered a good city.

“There is no dearth of funds for development of Bhiwandi. The state government will do everything possible for the (development) of the city,” he said.

“You (citizens) should not simply depend on the state government and the civic corporation, but you should have a sense of ownership, then only the town will improve,” he said.

Taking a dig at the Congress and the NCP, the CM said it was observed the previous government had not paid much attention to the needs of the nonurban towns.

“We have decided to extend a helping hand to them (such towns)... You (citizens) should help in keeping the city clean,” he added.

“There should be reduction in generation of domestic waste water. The three areas which need to be attended to in any city are provision of potable drinking water, waste water treatment and its disposal and garbage disposal” he said.

Fadnavis said the proposed water supply project of 100mld for the town costing around Rs568 crore was suggested by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The chief minister also announced funds worth Rs10 crore for road works apart from Rs25 crore for improvement of Meenatai Thackeray auditorium, underground water drainage and road concretisation work.

Shiv Sena leaders from the district “boycotted” the function.

PRAFUL GANGURDE The 785-metre Vanzarpatti flyover, which links Dombivli with Nashik and Wada, was inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday.