According to Sanjay Nirupam huge corruption has been occurring in the name of nullah cleaning work since 2005.
Former Shiv Sainik and Mumbai Regional Congress Committee Chief Sanjay Nirupam has blamed Shiv Sena for the alleged irregularities in the nullah cleanliness project. According to Nirupam huge corruption has been occurring in the name of nullah cleaning work since 2005. Nirupam has demanded that probe should be conducted against BMC officials, contractors, standing committee chairperson, Mayor, Deputy Mayor for the substandard work. He also demanded a probe against Uddhav Thackeray. Earlier Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and BMC Chief Ajoy Mehta had expressed their displeasure over the manner in which the desilting work has progressed in metropolis. Just like investigations were held in the irrigation scam in the same manner a probe must be held in the nullah cleaning work so that truth will be unveiled said Nirupam.
Nirupam said, “The BMC officials are working as per the instructions of the BJP. What action has the Deputy Mayor taken in this regard? A probe should be held against Uddhav Thackeray in the nullah cleaning scam. The BJP-Shiv Sena government has failed to take steps to prevent corruption despite being in power. Corruption has been occurring in the various works undertaken by the civic body. The government must order for a probe into the irregularities in the nullah cleaning scam.”
“BMC has already taken action against the officials who were found involved in these acts. Earlier Rahul Shewale had said that entire bills were not submitted to the BMC. Congress is making baseless allegations. It’s the job of authorities to conduct probe and we are ready to co-operate with the authorities. Only 16 crore bill has been submitted to the BMC. How can they call this corruption, let the investigations conclude and truth will be unveiled,” said Sunil Prabhu, Shiv Sena, MLA.
“Congress is making this allegation against Sena as they had fared poorly in the election and have become frustrated. The erstwhile government have always given clean-chit to the BMC earlier. So these allegations are being made with an eye on the BMC election. They are trying to rope in Uddhav Thackeray’s name to garner publicity and this act will continue as their frustration grows,” said Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe.
The Brihanmumbai has allocated Rs 281 crores for undertaking the nullah cleaning work for a period of two years out of which Rs 140 crore was meant to be spent during the first year. Only 60 per cent of the cleaning work was carried out prior to the beginning of monsoon. Only 16 per cent of the amount has been paid to contractors while the remaining amount is yet to be paid to them.
The BMC chief Ajoy Mehta had ordered an inquiry into the alleged nexus between contractors and civic engineers after shoddy work – despite spending over Rs 200 crore of taxpayers’ money – caused widespread flooding in Mumbai during the season’s first downpour in June.
