BEST administration to move Court against Union over media leak

Mumbai, Apr 5 (UNI) Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) General Manager Uttam Khobragade has said the Undertaking is likely to move court against its Union for allegedly presenting bogus surplus budget figures to mediapersons thus misguiding the people as well as the State government.

Challenging the figures provided by BEST Workers' Union General Secretary Sharad Rao which showed a surplus of Rs 276.50 crore for the year 2005-06, Mr Khobragade said ''they are bogus''.

Mr Khobragade said if the figures were correct he was ready to spend 80 per cent of the surplus to meet demands of its workers.

He suggested that he would appoint a single-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the financial position of BEST.

Mr Rao had addressed a media conference yesterday, where he claimed that BEST had a surplus of Rs 276.50 crore for the year 2005-06.

He said that the Undertaking was, however, claiming that it was facing a budget deficit of Rs 178.95 crore for that period.

''This alleged deficit was being shown to justify BEST's move to increase the bus fare and electricity tariff,'' Mr Rao alleged.

UNI