Smart cities project: Another flashpoint between Sena, BJP

While trying his best to get all 10 cities shortlisted by the state government to pass a resolution to be part of the project, Fadnavis gave an assurance that the powers of the civic bodies and their elected representatives would not be taken away. He also said the government would talk to all parties and look at all the drawbacks pointed out by them and take up the issue with the Centre. On Monday, he managed to get the Ncp-congress ruled Pune civic body to accept the project.

During the debate on the supplementary demands of the UDD in the Assembly on Monday, legislators from the opposition as well as the Sena objected to various provisions under the project.

Sena MLA and former Mumbai mayor Sunil Prabhu said the elected representatives in Mumbai have no so say on the MMRDA’S projects and the SPV will be worse. “The project stresses on privatisation, which means the people’s representatives will have no say in what is being done by the SPV,” he said. “The SPV will build infrastructure and recover money by charging additional taxes or cess on locals. This means the common man will be exploited,” he said.

Former CM Prithviraj Chavan said the government should give an option to accept or reject the provision to form the SPV. On the issue of including Mumbai into Smart Cities, he said forming SPVS, to be headed by a CEO, to develop the city wasbeingdonebythosewhowanted to rule the city with their money. In the Assembly, Fadnavis tried to allay all fears. He said the SPVS will raise the funds and implement the projects under Smart Cities, but its directors will be decided by the civic body.

The Congress said it was against the Centre’s project. “It is ridiculous that the BMC, which has more than Rs30,000 crore annual budget, will participate in the Centre’s scheme to get a paltry Rs500 crore for its projects. The BMC is capable of building them,” said city Congress president Sanjay Nirupam. MUMBAI: The legal tussle between environmentalists and the government over the construction of Metro depot at Aarey Colony is set to take a new turn with the entry of a citizens’ group.

The group has filed an intervention application in the ongoing legal battle in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking clearance for the depot proposed in the colony. The group includes people from different fields —

businessman Michael Pereira, consultant Avinash Gupte and interior designer Rajan Vernekar.

Acting on petition filed by NGO Vanashakti, the NGT had, in August, passed an interim order, banning construction activities in the colony. The tribunal’s next hearing is scheduled on Tuesday.

“Although the Metro projects will lead to cutting of a number of trees in the colony, it will help in keeping a large number of cars off the road. It will lead to