But no decision on unseating Tasneem Mehta from the post of director
Mumbai : The BMC will soon appoint an additional body to look into the affairs of the Bhau Daji Lad museum, with maximum authority resting with the civic body. The decision came after much debate in a meeting of heads of all political parties on Tuesday. It is likely to be implemented within the next month.
Speaking to the Free Press Journal, BJP’s Manoj Kotak said, “Even though it has not been decided to remove Tasneem Mehta from the post of director, a separate committee will be formed, which will be controlled by the BMC.” The civic body intends to increase its hold over the functioning of the museum. Even though the group leaders were unable to reach a decision regarding who will head this body, it is likely to be the mayor or the municipal commissioner.
The civic body has long sought to unseat Tasneem Mehta and Bhau Daji Lad museum’s current management for the discretionary decisions it allegedly takes, without consulting its head organization – the BMC. MNS’s Sandeep Deshpande said, “Within a month, the civic administration will take the reins of the museum in its hands.”
Meanwhile, among other issues which were discussed in the meeting, Manoj Kotak also demanded that the civic body should dilute the stringent criteria required for BMC contractors to participate in bidding for tenders for nullah desilting. Presently, the criteria include a minimum work experience in nullah desilting as well as in working with the civic body. Thus by default, many fresh but qualified contractors are barred from participating in the bids. Since many existing contractors have been blacklisted, corporators fear that a monopoly might develop among others. To break this possibility, Kotak suggested that the norms should be relaxed.
On another front, the civic body has decided to now replace all paver blocks on roads with either asphalt or cement. The BMC also banned use of paver blocks for road construction, henceforth.
