BMC Budget: Shiv Sena, BJP want push for pet projects

In the annual budget for 2014-15, the civic body was able to spend only 48.63 per cent.

When Civic Commissioner Ajoy Mehta presents Mumbai’s annual municipal budget estimates on Wednesday, the last one before Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) goes to polls next year, citizens are likely to find in it reflections of the sustained squabbling between ruling partners Shiv Sena and the BJP.

For example, while the BJP has sought more allocations for initiatives such as Swachh Mumbai Abhiyaan, Smart City project and maintenance of open spaces taken back by the civic body recently, the Sena is keen on getting allocations for the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial at the Mayor’s bungalow, theme park at the Mahalaxmi racecourse and the Byculla Zoo ravamp. Interestingly, the Sena has opposed the Smart City plan and the BJP is against theme park at Mahalaxmi.
Last week, Mehta had met all the group leaders, seeking their suggestions for the budget. “In the Swachch Mumbai Abhiyaan, the civic body’s performance was not satisfactory. So, we have asked the civic chief to make the required allocation to improve its performance. We have also asked him to take necessary steps for the Smart City project,” said Manoj Kotak, group leader in BMC and a BJP corporator.

Senior Shiv Sena corporator Trushna Vishwasrao said that it had written to Mehta around a month ago to fast track the process of setting up Bal Thackeray’s memorial “We have discussed this with him recently. Some allocation will be made for it. We have also asked for allocations for the theme park at Mahalaxmi racecourse and for taking new roads,” the corporator added.

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While the civic body’s budget for 2015-16 is of Rs 33,514 crore, the capital expenditure amounts to Rs 11,823 crore. Of this, BMC has been able to spend only Rs 3,014 crore, which is 25.49 per cent, till January 28.

In the annual budget for 2014-15, the civic body was able to spend only 48.63 per cent.

Though the spendings are low so far, it will increase in the next two months as most of the work started after October and the contractors will submit bills till March 31, said an official from the finance department, adding the spending may go up to 50-60 per cent.