The project will be shelved soon, as the party's state unit has decided to oppose the plan, the brainchild of deputy Mayor Gopal Shetty.. This decision was taken by corporators and members of the party's Mumbai district, informed BJP leader in the corporation, Arun Deo. ``In 1995, when the BJP and Shiv Sena came to power in the corporation, they had promised Mumbaiites safe drinking water. But three years down the line, there are many who still do not have access to clean water. Also, there have been complaints of contaminated water supply in some areas,'' said Deo.

The BMC, intoned Deo, should concentrate on providing water to every citizen - its obligatory duty - rather thanget into market ventures like providing mineral water. The corporation is already burdened with several obligatory duties, he observed, and it would be unadvisable to take on any additional burden at this juncture. Deo also figured that the number of consumers of mineral water was less, and said the BMC should concentrate on the larger interests of Mumbaiites.

When Deo's attention was drawn to the fact that Shetty had ventured into the business to rake in much-needed revenue for the BMC, he said, ``The BJP feels that if loop-holes in the process of supplying drinking water are plugged, the BMC could make much more money.'' The proposal had reasoned that while private companies sold one litre of bottled mineral water between Rs 10 and 15, they paid the BMC only two paise for that litre. When the proposal was passed by the Mayor-in-Council, it was estimated that the BMC would supply one bottle of mineral water for Rs five; recently, it was found that the price would be on par with market rates: Rs 10 perbottle.

The water supply department had even decided to grant land and electricity free of cost to the company that was to take up bottling. This company was to pay the corporation a royalty of Rs two per bottle, and this way, the BMC had hoped to earn over Rs eight crore annually.

Shetty himself seemed to be in the dark about the decision, and told Express Newsline, ``I have not received any such information from the party. At present, I am still working on the project, and tenders for setting up a bottling plant are in the pipeline. But if my party has arrived at this decision, I will abide by it.''