BMC to make all its depts eco-conscious by next year

Mumbai: The civic body’s drift towards infrastructure development at the cost of the environment is set to change, since, by 2011, Mumbai will at least have a ‘vision’ of becoming an eco-city.

To make every department in the civic body accountable, the state environment ministry, for the first time, has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to chalk out an environment action plan for the next five years. It will focus on lakes, river conservation, stringent air pollution rules, sewerage and water monitoring, and sensitivity to the environment. The initiative is part of the 2010 vision document of the state environment ministry.

“Whatever money the BMC spends is pumped into infrastructure, and not the environment. The the need of the hour is to have a vision to take Mumbai along the right direction,” said Sachin Ahir, minister of state (environment).