Uproar in JMC meet over land grab charges against MP

JAIPUR: Ugly scenes witnessed at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation's (JMC) general body meeting (GBM) on Friday where BJP and Congress councillors engaged in a scuffle after Congress councillor Umar Daraj alleged that city's member of parliament (MP) Ram Charan Bohra is involved in encroaching government land.

He further alleged that a case in this regard was registered against Bohra at Shipra Path station. Scuffle intensified when BJP councillors gheraoed and asked Congress councillor to apologise for his levelling baseless allegations against their senior party leader. Abuses were also exchanged between the councillors and many were witnessed standing on the tables.

The matter was pacified after marshal forcefully dragged out Congress councillor Dharam Singh who initiated the scuffle.

Mayor Ashok Lahoti adjourned the meeting for one hour to bring the situation under control.

On Friday, the GBM meeting was called after receiving permission from the election commission to discuss agendas related sanitation. During the meeting, majority of councillors targeted the JMC officials and BVG India, the firm appointed for door-to-door garbage collection scheme.

Councillors alleged, the appointed firm has failed to adhere to terms and conditions mentioned in the tender documents. Many claimed, officials are shielding the firm even after it failed to perform in improving the sanitation condition.

"The firm had to deploy machinery worth Rs 75 crore. However, it has managed to deploy Rs 25 crore machinery till date. Still, no action has been taken against the firm by officials," said BJP councillor Anil Sharma .

It was also highlighted the firm is subletting work to local contractors on lesser rates and earning profit , which is violation of the rules.

"There is condition mentioned in the contract that 50% of the vehicles should be registered under firms name. Despite paying Rs 1,650 per metric tonne it has failed deploy its resources. Officials have issued notices 11 times to the company for not performing, but no action has been taken against the company," said another BJP councillor Man Pandit.

Supporting view of fellow councillors, Bhagwat Singh Deval, BJP councillor alleged, "The firm has to initiate door to door garbage collection scheme in 3 months in 91 wards of the city. So far, scheme is implemented in 61 wards. In some wards, the firm is doing mere formality as only two to three vehicles are deployed."

It was highlighted that before the introduction of door to door garbage collection scheme 1350 metric tonne garbage was collected from the city. Now, officials claims that 1,800 metric tonne is lifted, still garbage is littering on the roads.