The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Vigilance Department has expressed concern about the Mithi River Rejuvenation Project which is facing hurdles because of encroachment. After mid-day’s report highlighting the issue on April 2, it issued a bizarre diktat saying if a project is stalled by an encroachment, it should progress by leaving out that area, so the work continues. The department further wants the work that remains due to this, to be taken up after issuing another e-tender. The vigilance department has ordered the administration to be ready with an encroachment removal plan regarding projects before preparing the estimate for them.

On April 3 after mid-day’s report, the Vigilance Department published a circular regarding the issue of encroachment. It expressed concern about projects and announced a protocol for them in it. “If it is not possible to achieve the removal of the encroachments within the period of the proposed work, the estimate shall be prepared by deducting the encroached portion and the related particulars shall be mentioned in the draft tender,” (SIC) the vigilance department said in the circular.