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15 families
of 26th July 2005 incident gathered at
the Mithi bank at Kranti Nagar, Kurla,
and remembered their near and dear ones.
11 yagna kund were organized by BJP
leader, Dr. Kirit Somaiya as part of the
Mithi Maha Yagna. Along with 11 Hindu
families, 4 Muslim families were also
present.
Few of the families have lost everything
in the 26th July deluge. Dawood Manakia
has lost his wife, son and
daughter-in-law. Similar is the story of
Gautam Ahire, Suresh Mahendrakar, Manoj
Bhatkar.
Dr. Somaiya organized Mithi Maha Yagna
as “shraddha” of 501 people who lost
their lives in the 26th July deluge.
Yagna was also performed to give
strength to the activists to get Mithi
rejuvenation project completed. Mithi
project has reached half way.
Along with Dy. Mayor - Shri Vinod Ghedia,
BMC Ward Committee Chairman - Shri
Sitaram Tiwari, BJP President, Shri
Asish Shelar, Shri Dawood Manakia,
Gautam Ahire, Suresh Mahendrakar, Manoj
Bhatkar, Shankar, Pawar, Vaman Chheda,
Sundermurti Shettiyar, Ravindra Jadhav,
Joseph, Janavati Giri also participated
in today’s Yagna. The Yagna was to offer
prayers for the 501 departed souls.
After 2012, every year shall have
26th July, warned Dr. Somaiya
Apathy of the Government to clean up
other small rivers of Mumbai western
suburb – Dahisar, Poisar, Oshiwara,
Ulhas and Waldhuni rivers of Thane Dist.
shall result into water blockade and
flood every year after 2012, warned Dr.
Somaiya. It is a pity that Government
has not seen that the encroachment and
diversion of the river has continued for
the last 2 years. It is surprising that
the State Government has continued to
show these rivers as nalas in
development plans at various places.
Speedily, the rivers are being converted
into nalas. Dr. Somaiya feared that some
river may get evaporated by 2012.
Poor relief and rehabilitation of
26th July affected
All the 15 families participating in
today’s Maha Yagna expressed their
grievances about the relief and
rehabilitation work of the Govt. It may
be noted that the Auditor General has
strongly exposed the corruption in the
26th July relief work. The affected had
not received financial assistance or
rehabilitation package. Many are
homeless.
Mithi Project is now of Rs.2,000
crores
Rs.1,250 crores Mithi rejuvenation work
shall cost Rs.2,000 crores now. Mumbai
Municipal Corporation shall spend Rs.930
crores. It is likely to cost Rs.1,000
crores to MMRDA. Shocking part is that
the State and Union Governments have not
contributed single paisa in the last 3
years for the Mithi revival, informed
Dr. Somaiya
Mithi half done
Due to the sustained effort and the
pressure of Mumbaikars and the media,
around 25 lakh cubic meters of silt has
been removed in the last 3 years.
Widening of the river is completed for
14.5 of the 21 km stretch.
- Widening and reconstruction of 15
bridges yet to start
- Construction of the retaining wall for
the 18 km length is to get momentum
- Mithi work within the Airport
Authority area is a non-starter
- The blockade between Kurla-Kalia road
and CST Road has to be removed
- Widening of mouth of Mithi at Mahim
Creek is to be speeded up.
Dr. Somaiya appealed to the Govt., MMRDA
and BMC authorities to take up other
rivers revival project to avoid 26th
July type disaster.
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