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Journalism of Courage
CHANDRAPUR, July 29: Chandrapur Municipal Council (CMC) which faces a major financial crunch, has presented VIP Odyssey suitcases, worth Rs 1.25 lakh collectively, to the MC members recently.
The CMC purchased 68 suitcases at the cost of Rs 1,25,120. While the dealers give an `off season discount’ of 20 per cent, the CMC purchased these suitcases at only 6 per cent discount. Moreover, the purchases were made for Rs 1.25 lakh, while the sanctioned amount was Rs 1 lakh.
53 out of 54 members accepted the gift, while opposition member Sanjay Vaidya, refused to accept the gift. The co-opted MC members and heads of various departments were also given the suitcases.
There is no legal provision for presenting gift articles to civic and autonomous body members. But, the interesting part of the episode is that the suitcases were not presented to the members during the annual budget meeting. They were delivered at the residence of every MC member, almost after a fortnight of the meeting.
Vijay Wandalkar, a BJP member in the MC, tabled a resolution of making a provision of Rs One lakh towards purchase of suitcases during the meeting, and the resolution was passed unanimously.
The annual budget was also presented and passed in the same meeting. A woman MC member belonging to the Raut camp, had suggested purchase of watches from a shop owned by one of her relatives. However, the proposal was rejected by the members.
While the MC is busy spending lavishly on gifts for the members, its financial position is sinking. It is gathered that the financial position of the MC deteriorated as it took heavy loan in the past. As a result, the contractors’ bills have not been cleared for the last six months.
The MC gets a weekly revenue of about Rs 12 to 15 lakh through octroi collection, and the amount is utilised for paying staff salaries, the MC officials said.
Raut, who was elected to the post of MC president on the support of Janata Party, Trivedi Group and Shiv Sena members, has failed miserably in seeking a special grant for the MC from the Urban Development Ministry of the State Government.
Raut, accompanied by his supporters, visited Mumbai four times in this connection. However, he could not succeed in getting funds for the MC. The expenditure incurred on his visits only is reported to the tune of lakhs of rupees.
