Queries pile up at Municipal Commissioner’s office

Every four months,the civic body publishes the number of issues that remain answered. Despite this,74 points of orders and 51 letters -100-odd pertain to budgetary audit reports are yet to be addressed by the BMC administration.

“The municipal commissioner answers questions and issues raised. However,the questions are increasing in number and hence despite the administration trying to answer,the list is getting longer,” said the municipal secretary.

Budgetary audit reports relate to development schemes,slum improvement schemes,slum clearances,water supply and sewerage. The chief auditor’s report on budget allotted for education,health,estates,land management,and budget transactions for several years in a row since 1987 has also been demanded by the standing panel members.

In July,2012 poor rains prompted the standing committee to pass an order to acquire all 784 privately owned wells in the city and make owners liable for their maintenance to tide over a likely water shortage. The committee then began to check how public and private wells were being maintained. This led to two more unanswered points of orders.

Some of the other points of orders that remain unattended to include a 2008 issue raised against pay-and-park in residential expanses,a 2011 demand that all nursing homes and hospitals in the city be registered with the civic body and a 2012 issue to make corporators pay for new water connections to slums from their own funds. A 2011 unanswered point of order contends that the autonomous National Plasma Fractionation Centre at KEM hospital be included in BMC’s public health services. Some unanswered point of orders are related to the demand in 2011 for granting honorariums to the city mayor,the municipal secretary,and the heads of various BMC committees.