MUMBAI, April 2 -- The BMC'S standing committee on Wednesday approved a cost escalation of over Rs.2,000 crore of the Gargai dam project with a majority vote. The proposal to sanction Rs.5,051 crore, a significant hike over the initial BMC estimate of Rs.3,105 crore in 2020, was passed with a vote after the opposition questioned the move. The entire standing committee had on March 11 held back the escalation proposal of Rs Rs.5,396 crore, demanding an explanation for the escalation. Following the committee's refusal to sanction it, the administration negotiated with the contractors, Soma Enterprises in three rounds and managed to bring down the costs by Rs.345 crore. The standing committee members were also briefed with a power point presentation on the project. When the opposition strongly questioned the escalation, the chairman of the standing committee, Prabhakar Shinde, put the motion to a voice vote, in which the opposition was outnumbered, thus paving the way for sanctioning of this proposal. Ruling party members said that meeting Mumbai's increasing water requirements was the need of the hour, and hence it was important for the project to be sanctioned. Ganesh Kankhar, leader of the BJP in the house, pointed out how certain areas received water supply only at midnight and how the administration had managed to save about Rs.350. crore of taxpayer money following successful negotiations. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi questioned the project cost escalation without any work happening on the ground. "They are asking for Rs.2,000 crore without doing any work or rehabilitation or even receiving all the environmental and other clearances," he said. "If this continues, what is the guarantee that we will not see the project cost go up to Rs.7,000 crore in another two years?" Shiv Sena leader Yashodhar Phanse pointed out the huge environmental impact of chopping/moving 310,000 trees from the project site in Palghar and doing the transplantation/ compensatory afforestation in faraway Chandrapur. He suggested that the BMC consider the desalination project for its water needs since that could be implemented within a clear time frame. Yashwant Killedar of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena said his party was not opposed to the project per se but had issues with the huge cost escalation....