Though the supplementary proposal worth Rs 137 crore for road repair was cleared, members questioned the transparency promise that the civic chief had made in its annual budget
The civic administration was caught unaware of a road repair proposal tabled during the Civic Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday, as the Additional Municipal Commissioner (city) sought more time to provide details on the proposal.
Though the supplementary proposal worth Rs 137 crore for road repair was cleared, members questioned the transparency promise that the civic chief had made in its annual budget.
The civic administration tabled a proposal for repairing Lal Bahudur Shashtri (LBS) Marg, a 21 km-long major arterial road in the Eastern Suburbs of the city, for the Standing Committee's approval. However, Pallavi Darade, Additional Municipal Commissioner, said she would be unable to provide the details of the proposal since she had received it in the morning.
The Opposition also raised questions on the transparency in the functioning of the civic administration. Raees Shaikh, Group Leader, Samajwadi Party, said, "It seems that our role in the Standing Committee is just to just clear whatever proposal gets tabled by the administration. Such practices have downgraded the Standing Committee's power." He added that it must be investigated how the proposal was brought to the Standing Committee and who were the officials who did so. Other members, including that of BJP and Shiv Sena, supported his claims, alleging that the civic administration was trying to avoid providing details.
When the administration wanted to bring back the proposal, Ravi Raza, Group Leader, Congress, opposed the move. He said that the administration cannot do so, as once a proposal is brought to the standing committee, it can not be taken back without the permission of a member of the Standing Committee. "After a proposal is tabled in the committee, it is up to the committee to decide whether to clear, put on hold, or take it back." However, Yashwant Jadhav, House Leader, pushed the proposal, saying that the road repair work is important.
The Standing Committee cleared the proposal and asked the administration to provide details of the proposal at the next meeting. Darade said that they didn't intend to escape providing details. "I have been attending Standing Committee meetings for two years and I know all the procedures. Since I got the proposal in the morning, I could not go through it. I sought time from the committee chairman so that I can do so at the next meeting," said Darade. Later, a civic official provided some details of the proposal.
THE BILL FIASCO
- Civic administration caught unaware of a road repair proposal. Additional Municipal Commissioner seeks more time to give details
- The proposal worth Rs 137 cr is for the repair of Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, a 21 km stretch
- Opposition raises questions on transparency in the functioning of civic administration.
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