Reportedly adamant on the scheme despite party members expressing their strong objection to it, Shetty has also reportedly written to opposition leader Kishan Jadhav of the Congress party and Samajwadi Party leader Yusuf Abrahani soliciting their views of the project.

Shetty's move is being seen as an attempt to tide over his party's opposition to the project by winning support from the opposition. When reminded that his party had openlyexpressed its opposition to the project, Shetty said the party command had conveyed no such decision to him. ``Let the party convey its decision first and then we'll decide,'' he said.

The corporation stands to gain a great deal from the project, though it is still not clear exactly how much the BMC will profit, pointed out Shetty, adding, ``This will be clear after the tenders are opened.''

However, Bharatiya Janata Party leader in the corporation, Arun Deo, categorically stated that the project to sell water would have to wait as the party had decided against it. ``All the party members, including Shetty, will have to abide by the party's decision,'' he said. ``In 1995, the BJP had promised the citizens of Mumbai clean drinking water in their election manifesto. This has not yet been fulfilled and till this is done, the corporation should not venture into the commercial sale of water.''

Several areas in the city still go abegging for water, and venturing into its commercial sale would translate into afurther shortage in supply. But Shetty denied this, saying the amount of water which would be utilised for the project would be a `very small percentage' of the entire water supply to the city. The proposal had been unanimously passed when brought before the Mayor-in-Council. Under the project, the corporation is to provide space, water and electricity free of costs to the company that will take up bottling of the water. According to Shetty, a plant could be set up at the corporation's water treatment complex at Mulund as it was lying unused. But the costs of setting up the plant would have to be borne by the company, he informed. The corporation will get a fixed profit for every bottle. The exact cut is to be worked out.

Given the present situation though, it looks as though it will take another two or three months to finalise the tenders and another six months at least for bottling to get going.