Cleanliness drive in the city has become a bone of contention between Ram Ashish Gupta, Congress corporator from Kandivli, and Atul Bhatkalkar, BJP MLA of the same area. While the corporator claimed that he has been doing the entire legwork with his team and have even managed to mobilise the civic staff and residents of the area to participate in the cleanliness drive, the MLA said that it was for his efforts that the work is being done. Both of them have resorted to resolve the issue in public displaying posters to convey their efforts and take credit.
"I even managed to clear the garbage from the chronic points in the areas like Ram Nagar, Ambawadi, Sai Nagar, Durga Nagar and Apna Nagar. The garbage dump outside a public toilet near Dalvi Municipal School in Kandivli (East) was removed with the help of the civic staff who used a JCB machine. But the MLA claimed that he has done the work," alleged Gupta.
Gupta claimed that there were local residents who were present at the site when the work was done. "How can any one blatantly claim the credit for the work I have done. I was personally monitoring the work. Apart from my supporters and party members, residents of Ram Nagar, the nearest residential area, were also present. If he was taking credit of his own work I wouldn't have mind it," Gupta added.
When contacted, Bhatkalkar feigned ignorance about the work done by Gupta. "I don't want credit but cleanliness. I know for the fact that I have worked for the cleanliness in the area from the very day after I won the elections," said Bhatkalkar.
Both the politicians have now engaged in a war of banners. While Bhatkalkar has put up banners claiming cleanliness work done by him with pictures of before and after, Gupta also displayed banners exactly below them with all the pictures of his work.
Offiicals from R-South ward remained tight-lipped and requested not to be dragged into the controversy. "It's a political issue and we focus only on work. Whoever asks for assistance and labourers, we provide these as per availability," said an official.
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