Desperate Parties Promise City the Moon
Ketaki Ghoge
Mumbai
CHOPPERS SPRAYING insecticides, 24/7 water supply, power generation
through garbage waste, night safaris in national park, water transport,
swanky airports, insurance cover for all, free crematorium service
and pothole-free roads.
This is not a blueprint for a futuristic Mumbai, but what our aspiring
city fathers and prominent political parties are promising Mumbaikars
on the eve of the civic polls.
If politicians are to be believed, Mumbai’s leap from jittery
metro – struggling to provide basic amenities – to vibrant
metropolis is just around the corner.
Over the next five years, political parties have assured citizens
just about everything, from squeaky clean water supply pipes to great
roads.
“The rationale for 24/7 water supply is that it saves water.
It’s possible but requires a lot of planning and cannot be done
in five years. Also, no one is talking about how to increase Mumbai’s
overall water availability,’’ said urban planner V.K. Phatak.
All parties have assured residents of a continuous water supply.
While reiterating its stance on slums – the 2000 deadline –
Congress has pegged world-class infrastructure (aka Shanghai, though
the party reluctantly uses the comparison now) high on its list of
promises.
While a swankier airport and speedier implementation of the Metro
are a first, the real surprise is the promise to provide insurance
cover to all Mumbai voters.
Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – with just
14 corporators in the city – has been more imaginative. Other
than choppers spraying pesticides, the NCP is keen on setting up a
night safari at Borivili National Park, weekend flea market in South
Mumbai, food plaza at Ballard Pier and ferry services.
The incumbent saffron alliance has reiterated many yesteryear promises
and added some new ones to its manifesto. These include a special
task force for protection of women and housing on salt pan lands.
Then there are eyebrow raisers like a promise to get BEST to run the
Metro and free crematorium rites in civic hospitals.
Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray released his party, Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena’s manifesto on Saturday, dubbed as “his pledge”.
Restricting it to by and large plausible promises, Thackeray has nevertheless
assured citizens of no tax hike in the next 10 years.
However, NGOs are asking residents to steer clear from such lofty
promises.
“Forget manifestos. We are asking residents to vote for the person
and not the party. At the end of the day even ten honest corporators
can make a difference in running the city,’’ said Vinay
Somani, convenor of NGO council.
ketaki.ghoge@hindustantimes.com
ILLUSTRATION: DURGA Congress Insurance cover for all Mumbai voters
in face of natural calamities It’s an attempt to provide protection
to residents in case of calamities like 2005 deluge. Our insurance
sector is booming, this is easily feasible Sanjay Nirupam, Congress
Spokesperson NCP Choppers spraying insecticides on swampy lands to
avoid incidence of mosquito menace Shiv Sena-BJP Wants to get BEST
to run the Metro instead of private companies so that tickets are
affordable. Is also keen to provide civic hospitals with free crematorium
service MNS Has promised residents no tax hike for the next 10 years.
We don’t want to burden the residents. If there is a deficit,
we will explore other ways of generating resources and revenue Shirish
Parkar, MNS spokesperson If Delhi Metro is run by government, why
should Mumbai Metro go to private players? Free crematorium is to
give dignity to the dead Vinod Tawde, BJP It can be worked out. If
we are going to be in the league of international cities, it’s
time we thought of sophisticated methods to combat diseases Sachin
Ahir, NCP city president
Publication : HT; Section : Metro; Pg: 4; Date: 28/1/07
URL : http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=28_01_2007_002_006&typ=0&pub=264
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