BHAYANDAR: Staring at an acute financial crunch, the (MBMC) has not only held back payments worth crores to its contractors and workers, but has also imposed waste collection tax on citizens. However, the civic body seems to be on an unmindful spending spree on the virtue of the tax payers money.
A glaring example of such wastefulness is the astronomical amount spent towards travel allowances for civic officials and office bearers in the BJP-led civic body.
In a startling information sourced out by local social activist Azim Tamboli under the RTI Act, the MBMC spends a whooping Rs1.5 crore yearly towards travel allowances and perks for officials and office bearers, including the Mayor. This apart from making payments amounting Rs1 crore to private contractors towards providing vehicles to civic personnel and officials in various depts.
While office bearers including the mayor, deputy mayor, standing panel chairman, leader of opposition and heads of various committees get Rs31,000, senior officers including deputy commissioners and junior engineers draw monthly travel allowances of Rs20,000 and Rs10,000 respectively.
“We will review the utility of the expenses and take necessary measures, if needed,” said civic chief- Balaji Khatgaonkar. “This is sheer waste of tax payers money to fund lavishness of babus and politicians,” said Tamboli . A couple of years ago the allowances for restricted only for those who needed vehicles for field work.” —Suresh Golani
