Following the Sakinaka and Kamala Mills fires, which exposed BMC's negligence, Congress's bid to oust chief Ajoy Mehta found no takers
Ajoy Mehta, BMC chief
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Following the Sakinaka and Kamala Mills fires, which exposed BMC's negligence, Congress's bid to oust chief Ajoy Mehta found no takers. Other Opposition parties and Shiv Sena did not support its no-confidence motion against Mehta.Opposition leader Ravi Raja put forth the motion on Friday.
As per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, for such a motion to go through in the civic house, it needs supporting signatures of four standing committee members. While Congress has three, including Raja in the standing committee, they failed to get one more.
Raja said, "I had sought support from SP and NCP, but in vain. Hence, I couldn't place the proposal in civic house. The commissioner has overturned many decisions and proposals passed by corporators. Road repair proposals were passed in the standing committee, but in many cases, he used his powers to cancel them." SP corporator Rais Shaikh said Congress didn't approach them.
Raja added, "Tomorrow if people question me about the Opposition's role in the corporation, I can say that I'd proposed a no-confidence motion..." Later, he moved a proposal to discuss the two major fires and affix responsibility on culprit officials. He also questioned Mehta for allowing rooftop restaurants to function after the improvements committee had rejected them.
BJP corporator and group leader Manoj Kotak demanded an inquiry by the ED against suspended executive engineer Madhukar Shelar and assistant engineer Dharmraj Shinde's properties.
Mehta says
Mehta said, "We are going to take an intensive drive against restaurant and hotels violating fire safety norms. We will seal them if serious violations are found." Responding to the allegation of pressure being put on him, he added, "On the day of the action (demolition of Mojo's Bistro and 1 Above), I got a call from a senior political leader questioning it and asking me not to go ahead with it. I will listen to everyone, but action will always be taken as per the law."
More officers in firing line
After the preliminary inquiry is done, more civic officials, mainly from the fire brigade, building and factory department and the ward, are likely to face the heat. A senior civic official said, "The civic chief will be listing down those who have defaulted in doing their duty." Mehta said, "I have not given a clean chit to anyone; all the guilty will be punished." - Chetna Yerunkar
Cops announce reward
The NM Joshi Marg police have now declared a R1 lakh prize money for anyone having information on Kripesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Mankar, the absconding accused in the Kamala Mills fire. The three have been booked for culpable homicide and have been on the run for a week now. - Anurag Kamble
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