BMC budget pro-contractor, will spell Mumbai's financial bankruptcy: Aaditya Thackeray

Mumbai civic bodys budget for 202324 is procontractor and will pave the way for Mumbais financial bankruptcy said Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday while the Bharatiya Janata Party called it truly for MumbaikarsThe Aam Admi Party and the Congress also criticised the Rs 52619crore budget which was presented by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC chief and administrator Iqbal Singh ChahalThe unconstitutional state Govt and the BMC governed by the administrator has been showing moral and legal bankruptcy for 6 months Todays BMC budget shows that it has begun to pave way for Mumbais financial bankruptcy tweeted Aaditya ThackerayUntil the term of the corporators got over last March the Shiv Sena had ruled the BMC for more than two decades The Uddhav Thackerayled party split in June 2022 following a rebellion by Eknath Shinde who joined hands with the BJP to form the government in the state BMC elections are expected to be held this yearDemanding the BMC to explain hiked expenses in its pro contractor budget Aaditya Thackeray said While on one hand we clearly see contractor friends of this unconstitutional State Govt benefitting the MCs Chahals speech finds a mention of curbing expenses which should be told to the bosses in Govt rather than MumbaikarsThe AAP targeted the BMC over utilisation of fundsThe Arvind Kejriwalled party which is trying to expand its footprints in Mumbai said the budget is an annual ritual aimed at throwing big numbers but utilisation of funds year after year reveals a sordid saga of ineptitude and incompetenceThe allocation of Rs 3347 crore for education is a mere 636 per cent of the overall outlay while healthcare saw a 9 per cent dip to Rs 6309 crore and is 12 per cent of the overall figures said AAPOn the allocation of Rs 800 crore for city transporter BEST AAP said it was a reduction of 42 per cent The BEST is being systematically throttled and is being allowed to bleed to a slow death with zero focus on mass transit said the partyAlso Read BMC budget 1300 digital classrooms in schools education gets Rs 3347 crAAP claimed that fixed deposits are being used to compensate for operational inefficiencies and cost escalation A record Rs 18746 crore will be withdrawn from BMCs reserve fund which is unprecedented said the party adding This budget is not for the aam aadmi but for the contractor lobbyRavi Raja former Congress corporator called the BMC budget inflated not at all realistic and sheer disappointment for Mumbaikars BMC must make plans to up the revenue and curb the unnecessary expenses he tweetedHe said it is clear that the BMC will dip into fixed deposits He said Though the figure of 80000 crores of fixed deposits looks impressive on paper most of the deposits are of PF and gratuity of employees which BMC cant touch he tweetedMumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said the budget is not for people working for cuts commissions and contractors but it is truly for the MumbaikarsFor the past 25 years the BMCs budget has always been of by and for the contractors Even the works prescribed to be carried out used to be as per the whims of the contractors and the budget used to also be one favouring the contractors Shelar claimedShelar said he had urged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene after Mumbais air quality index dropped from poor to very poor As a result this year a budgetary allocation of Rs 1500 crore has been made which is a great step he saidWelcoming the provision to provide footpaths on either side of roads that are wider than 9 metres Shelar also appreciated the no tax hike measure and termed the provisions made for infrastructure like roads health coastal road and sewage disposal a good moveThe budget is not the one favouring only the contractors but it is a budget made to address the demands of Mumbaikars Shelar claimedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever