Mathkari moots review of hoardings policy

Mathkari raised questions over the upcoming tenders for allocating contracts for hoardings in the city. He refused to divulge details saying he would elaborate in his proposal on Thursday. The corporation is likely to float the tenders inviting bids for the hoardings in the city next week.

Some corporators feel the agencies could bid for the tender with offers as high as Rs 100 crore. The current earnings of the Corporation from the hoardings stands at Rs 10 crore and the revenue is expected to rise to

Rs 50 crore with the new policy in place.

Mathkari’s proposal has been accepted by Mayor Mohan Singh Rajpal,and has been put up on the general body agenda for May.

“I don’t know why Mathkari is unhappy with the projected revenues the tenders could fetch the Corporation,” said leader of opposition Aba Bagul.

The BJP said it supports the unanimous resolution passed by the general body. “We have not changed our stand on the hoardings issue,” said BJP leader Mukta Tilak.

The Shiv Sena,MNS and BJP corporators strongly criticised Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal’s recent remarks that 90 per cent corporators of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) do not understand the civic body’s budget.

Sena corporator Shyam Deshpande said,“If the Mayor thinks he is representing corporators who do not understand the budget,then it is better for him to resign than lead such a team. The mayor must also declare names of the 10 per cent corporators who understand the budget and also whether he is one of them.”