West Side Story: civic job offer to migrants on run

“If construction projects are on hold and labourers are leaving the city then the BMC will absorb them. We will ensure that the labourers don’t leave by giving them work on other civic infrastructure projects,” Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said.

The BMC, with a budget of Rs 16,000 crore, is the richest municipal corporation in the country. It has undertaken several large projects such ass construction of the Middle Vaitarna Dam, laying of 100 km roads in concrete and various water schemes. Phatak said that these would be started within this year end and put on the fast track.

“There will be number of employment opportunities available to the labourers. If they are laid off by private developers they can work on civic projects and the BMC will ensure that they get absorbed through contractors,” he said.

It is not the BMC’s responsibility to worry about the labourers of private developers; Phatak said that the state government as a duty must ensure that in the times of recession people don’t leave the city.

Civic officials also said that the BMC has not been hit by recession and civic revenues have not been affected. “Compared to last year, octroi collection has increased 21.8 per cent and property tax collection 25.43 per cent. Income collection is on the rise,” Phatak said.