BMC clears projects worth Rs 1300 crore in a jiffy

Mumbai: With March approaching, which marks the end of the financial year, and the code of conduct also to be declared soon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is keen to restart many held over projects and pass major proposals. Projects worth almost Rs 1300 crore jointly were passed in the standing committee meeting held on Friday.

The standing committee passed all these proposals fearing they may not being able to utilise the funds before the budget gets over. The standing committee also flouted the norms of not giving the proposals on the agendas to the standing committee members. They gave the proposals just 8 hours before the meeting, which actually should be given 72 hours in advance.

The projects comprised of the repairs of the minor roads in the eastern and western suburbs and also some projects related to water department on changing pipelines and repairing the pipelines. This move however went very smoothly and the opposition too supported the same.

Devendra Amberkar, the Opposition Leader from Congress, said, "The BMC should consider the rules and should not give proposals just 8 hours before the meeting, which is completely wrong. The standing committee chairman should take this problem seriously and not entertain such late proposals in the meeting."

However, Rahul Shewale, Standing Committee chairman, said, "It was important for the proposals to be passed. There is a need to repair pipelines and roads and hence the proposals were taken on a priority basis."