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.
