MAHARASHTRA Lokayukta has decided to hold a hearing on the alleged Rs 263 crore street furniture scam in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray. The legislator on Friday alleged that the ‘scam’ was an example of the looting of Mumbai in Ahmedabad and Surat on the instructions of the Union government.
“I have raised my voice about the street furniture scam in BMC and have also written several letters to the civic body. But no action was taken regarding this. Two weeks ago, I wrote to the Maharashtra Lokayukta and complained about the fraud with documents. Today I was informed by the Lokayukta that they will hold a hearing on this issue in February 2024. The Lokayukta asked me to be present in the hearing and they summoned the BMC commissioner and principal secretary of the Urban development department,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray added that BMC gave Rs 22 million to contractors in the street furniture scam and we will raise questions in this regard. “Why did BMC pay Rs 22 million to contractors? What happened to that money? asked Thackeray. He said that he would raise the issue of change in road tender amount before the Lokayukta in the coming days.
The opposition MLA alleged a ?263 cr street furniture contract scam in BMC in March 2023 and wrote several letters to BMC commissioner IS Chahal. Towards the end of April, Thackeray had also asked the three-member committee for a report finalizing 13 street furniture items and the locations where they would be installed.
Thackeray also demanded that various infrastructure projects be brought into public service. “Various infrastructure projects have been completed but have not been opened to the public as the management is waiting for the official opening. Digha railway station on the trans port railway line has been ready for the last eight months, Dombivli-Mankoli connection is ready, Uran railway line is also ready. But CM Shinde, who belongs to the same Thane, has no time to assume office. “Apparently the government is waiting for a certain VIP to inaugurate it,” he said.
The MLA recalled Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s speech in the Legislative Assembly in which he criticized the Thackeray family for alleged fraud in the BMC during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The Chief Minister seems so impressed by a 33-year-old young MLA like me that he had to dedicate his entire speech to me,” he said.
While answering a question, he also said that everyone who had no contribution in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was busy taking credit for it and everyone who contributed was neglected. As the Thackerays were not invited for the same, Aaditya said, “We do not need any invitation to go to Ayodhya for Lord Ram’s darshan and visit the temple.”
© Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 23-12-2023 at 01:09 IST
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