MBMC to employ PAPs of Barvi Dam

Mumbai: The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) will provide employment to one member each of the 179 out of the total 1,163 families set to be affected by the raising of the height of the dam on Barvi River near Badlapur in Thane district.

The decision followed in response to the state government directions to gram panchayats and urban local bodies including the MBMC, which is one of the recipients of water supplied from the dam, which is proposed to be raised to 72.60 metre from its current height of 68.60 metre. The rehabilitation of the affected families is being carried out under the aegis of the MIDC.

As per directives, the civic bodies have been mandated employment to the project affected persons (PAP) in proportion to the water they draw from the dam. Accordingly, the MBMC will shoulder the responsibility of providing jobs to 15 percent of the PAP of the Barvi dam in its services.

“A huge number of class III and IV posts to be filled via public service commission are lying vacant. We will recruit the eligible PAP as our permanent employees as soon as we receive the list from the MIDC. Since the administrative expenses of the corporation are well below the limits, the recruitments will not create a major dent to the treasury. After all the twin-city not only receives water from the dam, which addresses water shortage issue, the added workforce will enhance efficiency of the civic services,” said civic chief Balaji Khatgaonkar.