Mumbai: ‘BMC put proposals worth Rs 540-cr on ice since April’

The Shiv Sena (UBT) delegation at the BMC headquarters on Tuesday

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have claimed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put development-related proposals made by legislators worth R540 crore in total on hold since April. The delegation of UBT MLAs and MLCs warned civic administrator I S Chahal that if the proposals were not approved, they would hold a protest at every civic ward office.

It also demanded that the civic body provide an office for Opposition leaders as one had been set aside for Mangal Prabhat Lodha, guardian minister for Mumbai Suburban district. The delegation, led by Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, met Chahal on Tuesday.

Danve told the media, "When we asked about the unequal distribution of funds, Chahal replied that funds have been distributed as per the recommendations of the guardian minister and claimed that the decision had been taken by the state government." He added, "If the state government is going to make decisions about the BMC, what is the need for a civic administrator? This is not injustice towards MLAs, this is injustice towards taxpayers who have an equal right to civic funds. We are going to meet the guardian minister and CM over the issue."

Dindoshi MLA and former mayor Sunil Prabhu said, "I submitted a proposal worth around Rs 36 crore in April to the guardian minister as well as the civic chief, but the BMC has yet to take a decision about it." MLC Sunil Shinde, who was present at the meeting, claimed, "Our MLAs and I already submitted a proposal regarding development work. Every MLA submitted a proposal worth Rs 16 crore. But the BMC has yet not decided on the proposals. In total, the MLAs and I, as MLC, submitted proposals worth more than Rs 540 crore."

Former corporator Sachin Padwal said that an official of the civic accounts department said that they had received only 18 proposals. "But the number of proposals submitted by our MLAs are three to four times this figure," he said. The delegation also discussed health facilities, beautification of the coastline from Worli Koliwada to Prabhadevi and issues concerning koliwadas and gaothans.

On February 15, 2023, mid-day highlighted how the civic body had distributed funds unequally. The administration made provision of Rs 3 crore in 77 wards that are BJP strongholds and Rs 1 crore for the 150 wards that aren't. Chahal didn't respond to mid-day's calls and messages.