Standing committee clears 240 proposals on last day of civic body's term, BJP corporators allege corruption after group leader is not allowed to speak
BJP corporators protest outside Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal's office on Monday. Pic/Prajakta Kasale
On the last day of the civic corporation's term, Monday, around 240 proposals worth Rs 3,000 crore were approved by the standing committee within half an hour, despite allegations of corruption and protest by BJP corporators. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators protested in the committee hall and outside the municipal commissioner’s office.
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Around 130 proposals worth Rs 1,500 crore were not taken into consideration. The proposals which were approved mainly include those for construction and widening of nullahs across the city, construction/extension of hospitals, and laying of water pipelines. At least 270 new proposals and around 100 old proposals were tabled. All the departments of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hurried to get their proposals approved in the last two meetings.
Shinde raises objections
BJP group leader Prabhakar Shinde raised the issue of a proposals worth thousands of crores being approved in a single meeting. But Yashwant Jadhav, chairman of the standing committee, did not allow him to talk and asked him to raise the issue after regular work. Shinde said that the objection is about the proposals so the issue has to be addressed before the start of the work. As Jadhav started announcing proposals without considering the opposition from Shinde, BJP corporators started levelling allegations of corruption against Jadhav. They shouted slogans against Jadhav and gheraoed him. Some tore and threw proposals in the air. Shiv Sena members stood to protect the chairman and the proceedings ended with slogans from both party members. Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party members were silent.
Shinde told the media, “The proposals had several errors, no clarity and a lot of corruption. The chairman did not allow any discussion on the matter.” He added that many of the proposals came the night before when proposals have to reach members 72 hours before meetings.
Chairman speak
Jadhav told reporters, "All the parties including BJP have supported us in the past five years and even today I was ready to allow them to talk, but they were adamant and I had to complete the work as it was the last meeting."
After March 7, an administrator (probably the commissioner) will take over the BMC. He will have the rights of the standing committee and the house to sanction works.
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