The civic body's decision to withdraw a proposal to increase funds for a few corporators, has irked some of them. However, those whose names were not on the list are satisfied with the decision
BMC
Last week, a proposal was put forth to the Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It suggested increasing the funds given to a few corporators, so that they can complete work in their wards. With the BMC going back on its decision to do the same, the potentials candidates for the State Assembly elections can’t do much to woo voters.
ADVERTISEMENT
BMC corporators get Rs 6 crore for carrying out work in their wards
The proposal
Every year, the corporators are given funds worth R6 crore, with which, they are expected to finish work in their respective wards, through civil work contracts and e-tendering. However, the proposal that was ultimately withdrawn by the administration, would have given a handful of corporators an additional fund of Rs 36.7 crore. One of the senior civic officials, on condition of anonymity told sunday mid-day, “We were asked to come to a group meeting to discuss the proposal, but the party members started quarrelling over the decision and so, the proposal had to be taken back.”
Planned move?
When the proposal was presented, the names of Leader of House from Shiv Sena, Trishna Vishwasrao, ex-group leader Dilip Lande from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Praveen Chheda from Congress and Ramesh Korgaonkar from Shiv Sena, were missing from the list. The question that arose was whether the decision to withdraw the proposal had been taken so as to not displease these people. Sources also suggest that it is possible that some of those, whose names were listed, asked for the proposal to be taken back so as to avoid a rift between the party members. Rais Shaikh, group leader of Samajwadi Party, said, “In spite of my name being there in the list, I was not happy with the decision as it would have upset my co-party members. I think the administration should have taken into account all the 227 corporators.”
Unequal distribution
Pravin Chheda, Congress Corporator, whose name was not on the list, said, “The proposal was not received well and would have led to a lot of tension among the party workers.” Korgaonkar, another Corporator of Sena, said, “The focus of the administration and the group leaders should have been to provide equal funds to all the corporators, which unfortunately did not happen.” SVR Srinivas, additional municipal, commissioner, refused to comment on the issue.