MiC clips accounts panel8217;s powers

MUMBAI, MARCH 17: Showing its autocratic underbelly once again, the Mayor-in-Council MiC today decided to curtail the powers of the mun...

MUMBAI, MARCH 17: Showing its autocratic underbelly once again, the Mayor-in-Council MiC today decided to curtail the powers of the municipal accounts committee, despite strong protests from chairman of the committee Kisan Jadhav.

Talking to presspersons, Mayor Nandu Satam declared that the accounts committee had no right whatsoever to call for any files, apart from those that had been already cleared by the municipal chief auditor MCA. This means the committee will no longer have the power to stop or challenge any financial decision of the MiC. It can only post-mortem8217; a decision already taken.

The mayor said it earlier appeared that members of the committee had independent powers to call for any documents for the committee8217;s scrutiny, but this was actually in violation of the rules.

However, leader of the opposition Kisan Jadhav Congress, who is also chairperson of the committee, termed the MiC decision foolish and childish and challenged it saying: 8220;According to Section 37 b 3 of the BMC Act, the accounts committee can call for any file. It is definitely not under the thumb of the MiC.8221;

Jadhav added the new move was another blow to the demand for transparency in the MiC system. 8220;The accounts committee had recently irked the MiC, when in two consecutive meetings, we questioned the MiC8217;s decision to give a massive discount to a particular company for the hoardings at Girgaum Chowpatty. Till last year, the BMC was earning an annual revenue of Rs 35 lakh from the various hoardings. Now the revenue has dropped to Rs 9 lakh per annum. This is just one of the glaring examples of the MiC8217;s lack of transparency,8221; Jadhav said.

He presented a copy of the regulations the committee is bound to follow. As per point 17 of the regulation: 8220;The committee may at their discretion visit the works, projects, ward offices, stores, hospitals, etc. falling within their purview, and call for reports from the concerned departments, if necessary, and make enquiries that may be deemed necessary in case of staff members or contractors connected with such works and projects.8221;

Supporting Jadhav, another Congress corporator Ravindra Pawar went a step ahead and threatened to move court if the MiC did not withdraw this 8220;undemocratic8221; decision.