BMC's 'Har building Tiranga' may cost South Mumbai locals Rs 1 lakh for 3 days

MUMBAI: BMC has appealed to residents of buildings along Marine Drive to have the facade of their buildings with LED lighting reflecting colours of the Indian flag from August 13-15 to celebrate the diamond jubilee year of Indian Independence. However, these buildings have to bear the expenses of putting up the lighting and, for some of the sea-facing buildings, this cost has gone up to over Rs 1 lakhfor three days. Residents have indicated to BMC that it may not be feasible for them to pay up "such an excessive" amount.
BMC has been conducting review meetings regarding its preparation under the Government of India's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative and it has urged citizens to hoist the Tricolour at their homes from August 13 to 15.
Ashok Gupta, vice -president of Marine Drive Citizens Association, said that BMC had approached their building too. "They sent us a letter to illuminate the building facade with Tricolour lights and we were more than eager to get it done. But the BMC-appointed contractor has given us a costing of over Rs 1 lakh to put up the decorative lighting which is not feasible... We had to reject the plan," said Gupta.
Former BJP corporator from Cuffe Parade, Harshita Narwekar, said many of the high-rises in the area are voluntarily putting up the LED Tricolour lighting. "As a bulk order to put up the Tricolour lighting is likely to be given out for many buildings, we are being given a costing of about Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 per building for three days. Being feasible for the societies, many have agreed to it," said Narwekar.
Parag Udani, chairman of Sunflower Housing Society, Cuffe Parade, said they budgeted separately to put up the lighting to the building and also plan to decorate the trees along the society premises. "We our doing it by ourselves and have not been asked by the civic body. We thought it would be a great idea in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations," said Udani.
Assistant municipal commissioner of A ward Shiv Das Gurav said that on the 75th Independence Day these illumination activities have been planned. "We are keen that around 30 buildings are illuminated, including commercial structures along the sea face. Some buildings have conveyed that the budget is too much for them and, in such cases, we will see what best can be done," said Gurav.