Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 15: In a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, union minister Nitin Gadkari has proposed saying that the rain flood water in Mumbai could be utilised for irrigation, industries around the city and horticulture in cities like Nashik and Ahmednagar.

"We have experienced that every year the Mumbai city suffers huge losses due to the floods. That includes loss of lives, property and damage to infrastructure as well. The floods create serious problems across the length and breadth of the city and hence, I feel that there is an urgent need to prepare a plan to handle flood situations effectively to avoid losses," Gadkari was quoted in a report by ANI.

The letter was also marked to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Maha DCM Ajit Pawar, and ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Jayant Patil.

Further, the union minister in the letter stated that 'rainwater adds to the level of the sea in Mumbai and backwaters hamper passage of drainages thereby creating a complex problem of disposal and passage of water. The issue of the sewage water adds to the worry. If systematically planned, floodwater, drainage and sewerage can be diverted towards Thane, and entire influx can be stored in a dam after treating this water in mid-way this water can be used for irrigation, industries around the city and for the cities like Nashik, Nagar for the horticulture as well.'

Gadkari also suggested that the water could be carried out to drought-prone areas in the state to combat the water scarcity issues.

He also advised for the creation of a barrage on Mithi river so that the water can be flown into the sea. Mumbai got well acquainted with the Mithi when the choked river overflowed onto its streets during the 2005 deluge.