Release road inquiry findings: Sena
With the civic body's 2017 elections just round the corner, the rift between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine is becoming more evident by the day. While the Shiv Sena issued a point of order in the general body meeting (house) on Thursday accusing municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta of withholding release of the findings of the road enquiry ordered by the Mayor, the BJP accused the Sena of stealing the show by picking up an issue they wanted to dis- cuss. Meanwhile, the opposition has accused both parties of fuelling a political battle and ignoring pressing issues concerning the city in the process. Following Mayor Snehal Ambekar's letter to Mehta on Tuesday asking him to present the findings of the enquiry, Standing Committee chairman Yashodhar Phanse issued a point of order about the issue in the house on Thursday. Phanse expressed discontent over Mehta delaying submission of the report for over two days, despite a reminder.
Phanse said, "Even though over 48 hours have passed since the mayor demanded an answer, the civic administration has not presented the report. We want to know if the report will be presented in the house. The people deserve to know where their money is going and who is responsible for these scams. The commissioner should also tell the corporators what action is being taken against officials found guilty."
Following this, BJP's Dilip Patel said, addressing the mayor, "I wanted to issue a point of order regarding the same issue, but preference was given to the Sena order instead." While Leader of the opposition Pravin Chedda made the same demands, he said, "The report needs to be submitted quickly. However, citizens are losing out as the two ruling parties invest their time in blaming each other.”
In October last year, Ambekar wrote a confidential letter to Mehta asking him to look in to irregularities in premonsoon road work. Following this, a three-member committee conducted an enquiry into the road contracts and submitted one part of the report to Mehta.