Corporators have a field day

The proposal was the brain-child of the erstwhile Mayor-in-Council (MiC), which gave the 10 private parties permission to develop properties reserved for playgrounds and recreation on a no-profit-no-loss basis. However, when the proposal came up for ratification on Tuesday, several amendments were introduced that would allow them to plumb the land for commercial gain.

All eight amendments proposed by the Sena were passed including allowing these organisations to make 20 per cent profit and also to extend their term to 30 years without advertisements and without stipulating norms for qualification.

The plea was that the BMC cannot afford to look after its vast properties and should give them to private bodies to maintain. But the eight amendments were introduced when the proposal came for passage before the House on Tuesday.

Of the 10 bodies, five have already developed portions of open grounds into plush private clubs charging astronomical membership fees and there were complaints of violation of lease norms by them. Among the five who have developed the ground include Sena corporator Ravindra Waikar, who hasconstructed the Matoshri Club at Jogeshwari, former Sena mayor Ramesh Prabhu and BJP corporator Vinod Ghedia.

The amendments have increased the lease period to 30 years, virtually making it theirs for keeps. The constructed facility will be handed over to the BMC only after completion of the lease period. It also stipulates that if any of these 10 institutions approach the BMC for entering into an agreement for development, repairs, maintenance of existing civic PG/RG/Swimming pools etc on adoption or a caretaker basis, the BMC need not follow the advertisement or qualification procedure.

The no-profit-no-loss basis was also scrapped, allowing the organisation to make a 20 per cent profit. The money so earned will be utilised for futher development or maintenance of structures and equipment, according to the amendment.

Significantly, the Sena did not forget to include a vital amendment — to allow liquor to be permitted with commercial charges. Other commercial activities will also be allowed and should be charged at assessment of commercial tariff.

According to the amended rules, the local corporator has been made the ex-officio member of the Project Management Committee appointed by the organisation as according to them legally the BMC nominee cannot be members of the trust. Also, 10 per cent of the members will be municipal nominees, who enjoy a 50 per cent rebate on the fees charged.

Also, the constructed area utilised for sports such as swimming, badminton, table-tennis, billiards, squash and gymnasia will not be charged with BMC assessment. Areas utilised for commercial gain such as restaurants, bars, permit-rooms, card rooms, shops, banks, etc, will be charged at commercial tarriff of BMC assessment.

Opposition Leader in the House K A Bastiwalla (Cong) and Nationalist Congress Party’s Ravindra Pawar critised the amendments, saying they would not benefit the common citizen. Pawar suggested that the amendments along with the original proposal should not be passed hurriedly but should be referred to the administration for study. In fact, even additional municipal commissioner Prithviraj Bayas appealed that the administration be given time to study the amendments. However on the basis of its collective strength with the BJP, the Sena passed the proposals terming it a “unanimous” decision.