Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray targets BMC commissioner Chahal over 'administrative scams'

Uddhav Thackeray. File Photo

Former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray Friday asked why the government was not acting against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal over alleged scams in the civic body.

Speaking at a gathering of party workers in neighbouring Raigad district, he slammed the BJP-led Union government for unfairly targeting his party leaders over alleged financial irregularities in the purchases made by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation during the coronavirus pandemic, newswire PTI reported.

In many of these cases, Chahal had signed the files, the former Maharashtra chief minister claimed. "Why the commissioner is not being arrested? Because he is with you now? Whatever scams that are happening in Mumbai are administrative scams," Thackeray said.

Sena (UBT) leader and former city mayor Kishori Pednekar was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate earlier this week in an alleged scam in the purchase of body bags during the pandemic.

Chahal, who is acting as administrator of the BMC since the term of its elected body expired in March 2022, would on Friday present the budget of the country's richest civic body, and "he himself will pass it," Thackeray quipped.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed its comprehensive budget for the financial year 2024-25, amounting to a substantial Rs 59,954 crores. The BMC budget 2024 presentation was led by the Municipal Commissioner and IAS officer Iqbal Singh Chahal, emphasizing key areas such as women's empowerment, healthcare, basic amenities, cleanliness, and pollution control.

5 things in the budget that can impact Mumbaikars:

Major impetus in education: The budget places a significant emphasis on education, indicating potential improvements in the quality of education across primary and secondary schools.

Reforms in estate department: The budget suggests reforms in the Estate Department of BMC, indicating changes in the management and utilization of properties.

Ease of travel: Infrastructure projects like the Coastal Road and Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road aim to enhance connectivity, potentially impacting the ease of travel for Mumbaikars.

Healthcare: The substantial allocation for healthcare initiatives, including hospital infrastructure development, indicates a focus on improving healthcare facilities for residents.

IT initiatives: The budget mentions IT initiatives, signaling potential advancements in technology-driven solutions for civic services and governance. (With inputs from PTI)