Mumbai BJP president and Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam has strongly opposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) public-private partnership (PPP) policy, which allows the allotment of plots reserved for municipal schools to private institutions. In a formal letter addressed to Mayor Ritu Tawde and the BMC commissioner, Satam demanded the immediate cancellation of the allocation of five such plots.
Satam's Objections to the Policy
In his letter, Satam highlighted that the civic body had already completed the process of allotting five plots reserved for BMC schools to private entities under the PPP model. He criticized the policy, stating it was formulated during a period when the BMC general body was not in existence, thus lacking detailed discussion on its terms, conditions, the role of the civic body, and the benefits accruing to the BMC. Satam asserted that the policy was implemented hastily without adequate consultation with elected representatives and lacked transparency. He noted that, prima facie, the BMC's interests appear to have been compromised under this policy.
Demand for Corrective Action
Emphasizing the larger interests of the BMC and the city, Satam called for an in-depth discussion on the issue, seeking input from all elected representatives and education sector experts. He demanded corrective measures, including the immediate revocation of the allotment of the five plots, the appointment of a committee to comprehensively review the policy, and a detailed debate in the civic house. Only after such steps, he argued, should a balanced and inclusive policy be formulated and implemented.
