Infrastructure issue raised at MCGM meet

The issue of substandard roads was taken up by corporators across party lines, who demanded an explanation during the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) house meeting.

On Wednesday, taking note of the poor condition of the roads in the city, a Bombay High Court bench, comprising of judges R M Lodha and S J Vajifdar had asked the civic body why contractors who used substandard material should not be punished.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the pathetic condition of roads filed last year.

MCGM officials claim that they have not yet received the directives from the Bombay High Court on the bad condition of the Mumbai roads.

The corporators took serious note of the high court intervention and held the BMC administration responsible for the situation. "The strictures passed by the court have shamed the civic body. Our commissioners are one of the best planners but the poorest implementers," said Rajendra Chaubey, a Congress councillor.

Allegations of officials and contractors being involved in corruption were also made. The corporators demanded action against the officials involved and further asked to blacklist those contractors, who were given the contracts for roads and drains.

Rajhans Singh, the opposition leader of Congress said, "The high court's stand is not wrong. The BMC administration had one year's time but all claims were proved hollow in the last few days of rainfall."

When Shrikant K Singh, additional municipal commissioner, western suburbs, who is incharge of roads was contacted, he said, "So far we have not got the directive from the court. Once we get it, we will decide on the steps to be taken."

Mohan Kadam, chief engineer (roads and traffic) said, "We will file the affidavit and necessary steps are being taken." The affidavit has to be filed in the high court by July 26.

Corporators questioned the way of giving contracts. Chaubey said that a single contractor is being given tenders of various wards. It is not possible for one contractor to complete the work efficiently, he added.

Rajhans added, "When Prime Minister talked about corruption in the corporation, everybody took it as very rude. But at least now, when the high court is saying so, we need to take action against corrupt officials in the administration."