Nitesh accuses BMC of corruption

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) Nitesh Rane, son of IndustriesMinister Narayan Rane, today levelled various corruptioncharges on the Shiv Sena-BJP led Brihanmumbai MunicipalCorporation (BMC).

The alleged corruption charges include the award of a carparking proposal to Sena leader Manohar Joshi''s son-in-law,inability of the civic body to fill potholes, water and sewageissues, Mithi river project, distribution of medicines,restoration projects of municipal schools and markets.

"The car parking project at Crawford market has proved asa boon to Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi�s son-in-law GirishVyas whose company has been awarded the contract. The BMC isnot going to even earn a rupee from the car-parking. Thetax-payers money goes waste as the contractors do a shoddy joband the problem of potholes seems unending," Nitesh toldreporters here.

According to Rane, crores of rupees are spent on pluggingthe leakages, repairing the pipelines, digging borewells,cleaning of sewerage lines and drains but Mumbaikars stillface water problem and hygiene issues.

Despite spending crores of rupees to control the ratmenace these rodents continue to plague the city. Even theMithi River still remains a threat for the locals during themonsoon as the BMC is unable to execute the work properly, hesaid.

"Every year the BMC buys medicines for Rs 85 crore toprovide it at free of cost to patients admitted in itshospitals. Yet the patients have to buy medicines for commoncauses. We wonder who pockets this money," he added.

Nitesh released a calendar with 12 alleged "inexcusable"corruption practices of the BMC.

"These calendars would be distributed at the grass-rootlevel. Let people hang the shameful act of the BMC on theirwalls and get constantly reminded how the ally parties at thehelm of affairs in the BMC are taking them for a royal ride,"he said.