BMC drops fine from `1.3cr to `8L
The BMC, citing errors in calculation, has reduced the amount of fine levied on civic engineers for delay in pothole repairing from the mammoth `1.3 crore to `8.34 lakh.
The BMC had levied a fine of `1.3 crore on the sub-engineers from the roads department for failing to report the potholes to contractors for repairs, within the stipulated time during the monsoon.
The civic body had laid a 48-hour deadline for pothole-filling for contractors and engineers, failing which they were charged a fine of `1,000 per day. However, engineers had strongly opposed the civic body’s decision, claiming that the faulty pothole tracking system software had led to the delay in pothole repairs.
G.R. Agrawal, chief engineer, roads department, said, “We decided to revaluate the fine amount and during the process, we found that contractors as well as inter-departmental fines were also added inadvertently to the engineers’ fine.”
Standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale, who is also a chairman of the Municipal Engineers Union, had demanded that the fines be revoked and only a token fine be imposed on sub-engineers.
“The administration has clearly succumbed to the political pressure, as well as the engineers’ union. This will send a wrong message to the civic body,” said a civic official, on condition of anonymity.
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