Defending the BMC, the state government on Thursday said that there was nothing wrong in the `2,089.98 crore-worth contracts that were approved by the municipal corporation between December 2011 and January 2012. The government said that all the due procedures were followed and it cannot be said that the proposals were cleared because of the impending elections.
The Congress and NCP legislators had raised the issue in the ongoing legislative council’s Budget Session stating that the BMC had given contracts worth over `2,100 crore in just two months before the election as the corporation knew that the civic elections could be announced at any time. They sought to know whether the state government has conducted any inquiry into it and whether any action has been taken by it.
In the written reply in the legislative council, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that there was no question of any inquiry or action as there was no irregularity.
“The standing committee of the BMC had approved contracts worth `2,089.18 crores during December 2011 and January 2012. However, these works were included in the annual budget and after completing the due procedure, the administration presented these proposals before the standing committee for its approval. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that these contracts were given hurriedly because of the forthcoming elections,” the CM said.
In another question, Congress legislators had asked as to what action the state government has taken against the BMC, which has failed to solve civic issues in Mumbai despite spending `23,000 crore in last five years.
The CM defended the BMC again and stated that it is making every effort to solve the civic issues. “From 2007-08 to 2011-12, the BMC has spent `21,475 crore on works related to civic issues and tried to improve the standard of civic facilities. But Mumbai is a metropolis and its issues can take some time to resolve. But the BMC will continue its efforts,” the CM said.