BMC Road Department Scam: Mayor’s ‘confidential’ letter to BMC chief sparks war of words

BJP has demanded an inquiry into desilting following massive floods on June 19. Mehta had also suspended 14 civic officials following the inquiry.

Following the desilting scam that resulted in a clash between the ruling alliance Shiv Sena and the BJP, a road scam in the BMC has resulted in a political war of words. City mayor Snehal Ambekar has reported a huge scam in the road department in a “confidential” letter to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta. In the letter, Ambekar has alleged that only a fraction of the work is carried out by the department, while money is siphoned off by “contractors and corrupt officers”.

President of the Mumbai Congress unit, Sanjay Nirupam, said, “This new revelation has proved that BMC is the most corrupt municipal body in the country. There is corruption in every department, which includes education, solid waste management, road and storm water drains. PM Narendra Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis are pressing for zero-tolerance towards corruption. BJP is the ruling party in BMC. It should withdraw support from Sena. Both the parties are morally responsible to Mumbaikars.”

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While the desilting contracts are worth Rs 150 crore, BMC hands out road contracts worth Rs 2,000 crore every year. BJP has demanded an inquiry into desilting following massive floods on June 19. Mehta had also suspended 14 civic officials following the inquiry.

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In her letter, Ambekar also specified on the the modus operandi adapted by the road contractors. “The quantity of earth, which is being transported to private dumping plots in the roads department is about 10 times higher than the quantity of the desilting work. Contractors are paid huge sums of money for transporting silt. Contractors transport only 20 per cent of the earth and 80 per cent of the money goes into their pockets. This has caused financial loss to the BMC.” A copy of the letter is with The Indian Express. While the mayor was unavailable for a comment, standing committee chairman and senior Sena leader Yashodhar Phanse said that the party is not against the demand for an inquiry. “As the head of the corporation, the mayor has demanded an inquiry. We are not against it.”

The allegations have come as a huge shock to BMC. While Phanse heads the committee thatgives final approval to all contractors, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray had undertaken extensive road work visits just before the rains hit the city.

Last week, Sena MP Rahul Shewale had also demanded BJP leader Ashish Shelar’s resignation for making “irresponsible statements” over the desilting scam.

After the letter was leaked to the media, an assistant municipal secretary in BMC was transferred Wednesday from the mayor’s office to T-Ward (Mulund). While civic officials said the transfer was a routine procedure, political leaders have demanded an explanation.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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