Mumbai Civic Chief Iqbal Singh Chahal held a press conference to address the corruption charges made by Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Chahal rebutted the allegations related to corruption and misgovernance in various projects undertaken by the BMC.
One of the key issues raised by Aaditya Thackeray was the alleged misuse of the civic body’s Fixed Deposits (FDs). Chahal clarified that the FDs had actually increased in value during his tenure. When he took charge in May 2020, the FDs were worth ₹79,115 crore. As of June 30, 2023, they stood at ₹86,467 crore, with a peak of ₹91,690 crore as of March 31, 2022. Chahal mentioned that a substantial part of the funds had been allocated for mandatory payments such as the sharing of fungible Floor Space Index (FSI) money with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and pending gratuity and pension dues for BEST employees.
Chahal also addressed the issue of potholes on Mumbai’s roads, explaining that comparing the city’s situation with others that receive less rainfall would be unfair. He pointed out that the continuous rains, non-drainage of water, and geographical conditions contribute to the formation of potholes on asphalt roads. Chahal shared that the BMC had initiated efforts to find a permanent solution to address the problem. Tenders were invited for concreting approximately 400 km of roads at a cost of ₹6,080 crore, accounting for the increase in construction costs since 2018.
Regarding the allegation of a hike in sanitary napkin rates in public toilets, Chahal clarified that the decision to install sanitary napkin vending machines was based on a survey conducted by the Solid Waste Management department. Out of the total 8,173 toilets under the BMC, vending machines were planned for only 5,000 toilets. The higher price of the Combo Sanitary Napkin Vending and Incinerator Machine was due to the scope of work and technical details, including the appointment of field staff for machine operation over the next three years.
Chahal finally addressed the ₹263-crore street furniture scam allegation. He explained that to ensure coordination and uniformity, a single contractor was appointed for various street furniture tasks such as digging, concreting, and technical supervision. The tender process was carried out transparently through e-tendering, and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder. Only ₹22 crore out of the allocated budget of ₹222 crore has been spent so far.
By addressing these allegations, Chahal aimed to counter the claims made by Aaditya Thackeray and assure the public that the BMC’s financial position remains strong. While acknowledging the challenges faced by the civic body, such as potholes and the need for infrastructure development, Chahal emphasized that the BMC has been carrying out its responsibilities according to the rules and regulations in place. The press conference provided a platform for Chahal to present his side of the story and refute the charges of corruption and misgovernance in the BMC.
