Mumbai: Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap today drew
flak from Shiv Sena-BJP alliance for proposing to divide
Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for better functioning.
Jagtap proposed division of BMC into city and suburb
divisions for better functioning at a meeting convened by
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan with legislators from Mumbai.
"Despite adequate funds, many infrastructure and other
projects are pending or delayed, especially in suburbs. So, I
proposed to divide Mumbai civic body," Jagtap said.
He even suggested to appoint an additional Commissioner
for the suburbs like the separate suburban Collector to speed
up the works.
However, his proposal was opposed by Shiv Sena and BJP
MLAs. Even Congress MLAs said it was Jagtap's personal view
and not party's stand.
"We are against the division of the BMC. Mumbai city
cannot have two civic bodies," Shiv Sena MLA Subhash Desai
said. Other Sena MLAs Ravindra Vaikar and Deepak Ghosalkar
also criticised Jagtap.
"It is important that Mumbai should remain united and
therefore the idea of dividing the civic body is not correct.
We will not stand by it," BJP MLA Gopal Shetty said.
Minority Welfare Minister Naseem Khan who is from
Congress said it was his personal opinion and there is no such
proposal from the party or the Government.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 21:27