Corporators unite to put off demolition

The Rs 2.11-crore tender proposal to appoint contractors to carry out the demolition will be placed before the standing committee on Wednesday.

The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has made it clear that the proposal would not be passed under any circumstance.

“We still don’t know why the administration is not being transparent about the whole issue. We want the corporation to find a solution after involving all the stakeholders. We are ready to reject the tender like we did the last time. We will record the proposal, leaving the BMC options to either re-tender or find another way to make it approvable,” said BJP group leader in the BMC, corporator Manoj Kotak.
Samajwadi corporator Rais Shaikh too expressed similar sentiments.

“Not taking” a proposal means it is rejected and hence can be approved by the administration after a span of 45 days if the standing committee does not deliberate on it further. “Recording” the proposal holds it back for 90 days to give the administration a chance to enhance the proposal’s approvability, which may include re-tendering.

Earlier, in October last year, days before earlier deadline to vacate the 35 illegal floors, corporators had rejected a similar proposal, pointing out irregularities in the tender.

A senior civic official said, “Even if the standing committee rejects or records the proposal, we will ensure that work on demolishing the flats begins on the deadline of May 31. We will at least send our own civic employees to cut off water and electricity to make the flats unlivable. We will ensure the Supreme Court’s orders are followed.”