Politics over Deonar dumpyard fire continues

Congress asks Shiv Sena, BJP to launch complete probe into charges of corruption and release a white paper

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Columns of smoke rise from the Deonar dumping ground. Pradip Das

MORE ALLEGATIONS of corruption in the Deonar dumping ground fire issue were raised by Congress corporator Pravin Chheda Tuesday as he demanded an inquiry against the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL). Chheda pointed out that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)-appointed committee had reported irregularities in the manner of awarding the contract to UPL.

Chheda stated that the BMC had simply terminated the contract with UPL after the fire started in January. “An inquiry has to be conducted into the shoddy work by the contractor and the manner in which they were given the work,” he said. Chheda had intended to make a statement on the issue during the general body meeting held Tuesday but the mayor did not allow him to speak.

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As politics raged over the Deonar dumping ground issue, Sanjay Nirupam, the president of Mumbai Congress stated that the Shiv Sena and BJP should stop playing internal politics which was affecting the lives of thousands of people living near the dumpyard. “I demand that they launch a complete investigation into allegations of corruption and release a white paper on the matter immediately,” said Nirupam. Citing Rs 1000-crore garbage scam, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had alleged that while the city generated around 7,000 metric tonnes of garbage, BMC had paid the contractors for the disposal of around 10,000 metric tonnes.

Meanwhile, Mayor Snehal Ambekar passed the expenditure budget into the House without allowing anyone to speak, following which the corporators from the opposition parties including MNS, Samajwadi Party, Congress and INC created a ruckus outside the corporation hall. “She turned off the microphones and passed the budget. This budget is illegal and she is misusing her powers as mayor. We don’t accept this budget,” said SP corporator Rais Shaikh.

As a mark of protest, the corporators have announced their non-cooperation in the coming corporation meetings. “The mayor is trying to silence us. We will not offer our support for any issue and ask for a vote until the mayor agrees to allow us to speak, which is our right as corporators,” said Chheda.

Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and other officials from solid waste management department approached the Commissioner of Police DD Padsalgikar, who Tuesday promised to provide them with police protection.

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