Peeved with administration, corporators plump for MiC

The matter began when leader of the opposition, K Bastiwalla in a point of order rued that stalling Public Works Contractors (PWC) works had put the elected representatives on the receiving end. “The civic administration should either get the works started immediately or announce that they are responsible for stalling works,” he said.

Bastiwalla was referring to the recent stop work order given by the administration after it initiated investigations to establish the authenticity of income-tax papers submitted by 28 PWC contractors. The said investigations were in response to allegations by BJP MLA and corporator Sardar Tara Singh who claimed in May at a press conference that 90 percent of PWC contractors were bogus. Prior to this `the administration had put a hold on PWC works as a measure to check expenditure’

Today’s debate which was a result of a halt in PWC work had most corporators suggesting ways to restart it. Corporators said that contractors who have been given work order by the Coporation had refused to carry out works. “If the problem is not obviated soon a no-confidence motion should be passed against the Municipal Commissioner,” threatened Independent corporator, Niyaz Vanu.

It was Samajwadi party leader, Yusuf Abrahani’s suggestion that MIC be brought back as the corporators have been knocking administration’s door for long to get works like building repairs etc started in their wards but to no avail. “Though there are loopholes in the MiC Act the basic concept of empowering elected representatives is good,” he said. The Congress and NCP leaders also tuned in to the idea saying that if need arises the matter should be taken to the state government. Former Mayor and BJP corporator, Gopal Shetty also supported the suggestion.

Leader of the civic house, Digamber Kanderkar however chose to concentrate on the problem at hand and set a dead-line of 15 days for the Commissioner to get the PWC works started failing which a no-confidence motion should be moved, he said.

Replying to the debate, Additional Municipal Commissioner, P Bayas asked for more time to settle the matter. Deputy Mayor, Arun Dev who chaired the meeting announced that the civic administration would be given a month long time to get the PWC works going.