The Indian Express              01.11.2013

PMC to call off projects okayed by former mayor

The civic administration has decided to call off the development
works proposed by former mayor Vaishali Bankar. Controversy had erupted
when Banker — after she resigned but was yet to hand over charge — said
projects worth Rs 5 crore should be undertaken to exhaust the mayoral
fund.

“I have received communication from the municipal commissioner’s
office that the development projects proposed by former mayor after she
resigned have been cancelled. This will make funds available to me from
reserved budgetary allocation for the mayor,” said Mayor Chanchala
Kodre. She said the civic administration has clarified that the proposed
development works, which are yet to start or await administrative
approval, will be called off.

Bankar said, “The municipal commissioner has the power to take a decision on it, so I cannot say much.”

A PMC official said the municipal commissioner’s order could
spell trouble for them. “If a contractor has started work on the
assurance of the civic department head that he will be issued the work
order later, there will be a problem. Many times, the civic department
heads — to please the elected representatives — urge contractors to
start work before the work order is issued,” he said, adding that the
contractor will now seek reimbursement of money spent from corporators
and civic officials.

The issue of mayor’s fund getting exhausted in the first six
months of the financial year came under discussion after Bankar pushed
development works worth Rs 5 crore after resigning and holding charge
till the appointment of a new mayor.

Bankar was asked to step down before completing the 30-month term
as per the party arrangement to give opportunity to another corporator.
She held the post for around 18 months, including the first six months
of the current financial year.

A provision of Rs 5 crore is made in every year’s budget as
mayoral fund, which helps the incumbent take up development work in the
city. The same was done in the budget estimate for financial year
2013-14, but by the time Kodre took over, the funds had been used up by
Bankar.

Thus, Kodre requested the civic administration to make arrangements for
funds for her to take up development work of her choice and the civic
administration had to divert funds meant for the infrastructure
development in 23 merged villages.