MUMBAI: BJP leader Prabhakar Shinde has written to the BMC municipal secretary to allow him to move a resolution to divest the municipal commissioner, additional municipal commissioners and assistant municipal commissioners of all special financial powers granted to tackle the Covid pandemic.
Shinde in his letter has said the emergency situation on account of Covid-19 is under control and all the statutory committees are functioning normally. "It is important to withdraw these special powers as there are allegations that these powers are allegedly being misused to empty BMC coffers and enrich the relatives of ruling party leaders." The Shiv Sena is the ruling party in the BMC.
The BMC has so far spent Rs 1,600 crore to tackle the pandemic and last week the Standing Committee approved another Rs 400 crore. Shinde said the additional amount was approved by the Sena through brute majority despite objections from other parties. Shinde added that the Standing Committee which is empowered to approve all financial expenses of the corporation is now fully functional and so the special powers must be withdrawn.
BJP spokesperson Bhalchandra Shirsat said the proposal will come on the agenda only if the Standing Committee chairman Yashwant Jadhav approves of it and it could then be taken up on Friday during the BMC general body meeting.