The Indian Express 18.03.2013
Crores for garden upkeep go ‘waste’ as BMC fails to use funds
While the city fights for open spaces, an amount to the tune of Rs 85
crore meant to develop and maintain gardens and parks, has lapsed over
the past three years because BMC has not been able to utilise these
funds.
Standing commitee chairperson Rahul Shewale said BMC will soon
float tenders for maintenance of civic gardens and parks. “For the past
three years, funds meant for garden maintenance have been lapsing. We
are soon going to call for tenders for maintenance of the existing
gardens. An additional clause will be made for gardens that will come
up, wherein contractors will also be responsible for maintaning them,”
Shewale said.
In April 2012, the civic body had announced that it would develop
parks and gardens in 13 wards. This was one of the top goals for the
fiscal year 2012-13. Come April 2013, and of the Rs 43 crore earmarked
for the project, close to Rs 28 crore will lapse.
“This shows the lack of intent on the part of BMC. Even though
work has begun in bits and pieces, there is no way it will be completed
this financial year. It takes eight months to develop a garden. Keeping
this in mind, BMC should have started work in advance to avoid lapse of
funds,” said Amit Satam, BJP corporator and member of the civic markets
and gardens committee.
Officials said a large chunk of the maintenance work in gardens
has been held up due to a 2011 court order that restrained BMC from
giving out fresh tenders for the purpose.
“A group of contractors had filed the case against BMC saying that
the contracts were already given to them and that BMC could not issue
fresh tenders. The matter is pending in court and a lot of work has been
held up,” said Shiv Sena corporator and group leader Yashodhar Phanse.
Meanwhile, a large chunk of the civic gardens have turned into
crude stretches of land. Issues of encroachment, land ownership and
neglect are the underlying causes of this situation.
“Four-five gardens in Oshiwara have just been lying empty. There
have been ownership issues, with MHADA not having handed over the plot
to BMC. As a result, BMC has a ready excuse for not maintaining these
gardens,” said former Sena corporator Raajul Patel, who had raised the
issue in standing committees a couple of years ago.
Despite the current condition of the existing gardens, BMC
recently announced its ambitious plan of developing a zodiac themed
garden across four acres in Irla, for which it has estimated a Rs
10-crore budget.
“It is ridiculous that the BMC is thinking of unnecessary and
lavish gardens when the ones that are already there are in ruins. It is
misuse of funds and a waste of land and labour,” said a senior BMC
official.
