Mumbai: BJP wants white paper, Cong seeks audit on BMC's Covid-19 spending

The BKC Jumbo Covid Centre was set up in May last year. File pic

Corporators across parties demanded details of BMC's expenditure on Covid after two proposals were tabled in the standing committee meeting on Wednesday. The opposition claims that the proposals regarding expenditure of Rs 52 crore and Rs 77 crore on the BKC Jumbo Covid Centre have no details. While the BJP has demanded a white paper, Congress has sought an audit report. However, the standing committee chairman has ordered for a detailed report on the same.

"The proposals have no details. The BMC spent Rs 2,100 crore on the pandemic till March 2021 and the standing committee pre-approved spending of an additional R400 crore. Even after that the BMC splurged on managing Covid. We have demanded detailed information on the spending through a white paper," said Bhalchandra Shirsat, BJP spokesperson. He alleged that the civic body had spent more than Rs 5,000 crore.

Ravi Raja, leader of the opposition, said, "The BMC has spent more than Rs 4,700 crore on the pandemic. Though the corporation has done a good job, it shouldn't have happened at a cost 10 times the actual one. We have asked for a detailed audit report on the expenditure." Yashwant Jadhav, chairman of the committee, ordered for a detailed report on the expenditure. Both the proposals have been kept aside and will be discussed after the report is submitted.

Meeting still online

Though all members of the standing committee were present at the BMC headquarters, the meeting was conducted online on Wednesday. "Despite HC's order for physical attendance, the BMC is not following it. We have filed a contempt petition and a hearing is expected on Thursday," said Shirsat.