MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has become the new battleground for the Shiv Sena and the BJP. While the Shiv Sena corporators rejected a proposal to hand over 15 plots to the Metro Rail Corporation, the BMC administration – supposedly working on the directions of the BJP-led state government – has declined a proposal for bailout of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST).
The state government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been pushing for the infrastructural development projects in the city. Work has begun on the underground Metro line that would provide faster connectivity between South Mumbai and the busiest export oriented industrial hub of the city. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) had demanded 15 plots to carry out the construction work, of which 11 are controlled by the BMC. When the proposal came before the improvements committee of the BMC on Wednesday, it was immediately rejected by Shiv Sena corporators.
The corporators raised the issue of concerns expressed by the citizen. The proposal was opposed on the ground that the MMRC has not been giving credit to the BMC while carrying out the work. Former Mayor Vishakha Raut then raised several other issues like - the work causes too much nuisance, citizens are made to suffer a lot and at places like Mahim a sole playground is being sought by the MMRC. “How would anyone let them use the BMC plots to carry out the work in such condition,” she asked while adding to the issues raised by Shiv Sena corporators. All efforts by the administration as well as the BJP corporators were foiled.
“This was done primarily to create hurdles in the project as Shiv Sena fears BJP would tighten its political grip on the city if these projects are completed on time,” said Manoj Kotat, BJP’s leader of the house in BMC.
On the other hand, while the Shiv Sena stalled the handing over of plots to the MMRC, the BMC commissioner on Thursday rejected a proposal to bail out the loss making quasi-autonomous civic transport body BEST.
The BEST had been making losses and it would need Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years to overcome the losses. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had earlier this month promised to go in for the bailout while trying to pacify BEST workers who had gone on an indefinite strike. However, BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta discarded the proposal saying, “The corporation won’t provide the money as the money, though it would bail out the undertaking, won’t improve the services for citizens.” It would be improper to give Rs 10,000 crore to BEST while the BMC itself is in need of Rs 57,800 crore to complete its infrastructure projects, he added.
Apart from these kind of checks, the Shiv Sena and the BJP are also preparing for political battle in the BMC. Several corporators are likely to lose their posts owing to problems with their caste certificates and both the parties are unlikely to let go of such an opportunity to tighten their grip over the city corporation.