Nagpur Municipal Corporation Faces Opposition Over Civic Spending Decisions
The standing committee of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation convened on Friday, clearing a series of proposals involving significant civic expenditure. However, the meeting was dominated by sharp opposition from Congress corporators, who criticized what they described as questionable prioritization and a lack of legal backing for key decisions.
Controversial Taxi Hire Proposal Approved Despite Legal Concerns
At the heart of the controversy was the approval to hire taxis for the chairpersons of nine subject committees, a move expected to cost the civic body approximately Rs60 lakh annually. This decision was passed even though officials admitted there is no specific rule in the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act governing such a provision.
Congress corporator Abhijeet Jha strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that it violates the Act and reflects arbitrary decision-making. He pointed out that a similar proposal had been rejected earlier on the same grounds and warned that extending such benefits without statutory support sets a dangerous precedent. Jha also questioned the timing, stating that the civic body is already under financial strain and should avoid non-essential expenditure.
In response, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare defended the move during a press briefing after the meeting. She acknowledged that no rule prohibits providing vehicles to subject committee chairpersons but justified the decision by emphasizing that all chairpersons are working hard and require logistical support. According to her, providing vehicles will enable them to function more efficiently and deliver better results for the civic body.
Fire Preparedness Issues Highlighted in Meeting
The meeting also brought to light serious concerns regarding Nagpur's fire preparedness. While the committee approved Rs55.32 lakh for the installation of 33 fire hydrants, Congress corporator Wasim Khan flagged this number as grossly inadequate for a city of Nagpur's size. In a significant admission, the fire department revealed that 12 fire stations currently do not have hydrants within their premises, raising alarms over the department's ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
Multiple Infrastructure and Administrative Proposals Cleared
Beyond these contentious issues, the committee cleared multiple infrastructure and administrative proposals, with projects and expenditures cumulatively exceeding Rs5 crore approved in a single meeting. This indicates a substantial financial outlay, including allocations for road construction, IT-related procurements, and manpower deployment.
Key proposals cleared include:
- Rs60 lakh annual expenditure for taxis for nine subject committee chairpersons
- Rs55.32 lakh for installation of 33 fire hydrants
- Rs32.94 lakh for repairs at the New Administrative building
- Rs29.29 lakh for cement concrete pavement work
- Rs34.03 lakh for retaining wall repairs
- Rs2.23 crore for cement concrete road construction
- Rs24.71 lakh monthly expenditure for nuisance detection squad personnel
- Rs6.43 lakh for extension of a land acquisition consultant
The meeting underscored ongoing tensions between administrative efficiency and fiscal responsibility within the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, with debates likely to continue as these projects move forward.
