BMC officials accuse state of ignoring Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government often criticises the Centre for not helping the country’s financial capital, Mumbai. However, it often forgets that it owes about Rs 579 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which looks after the city’s amenities.

The fact that not just the Centre, but the state also look tight-fisted when it comes to Mumbai was underlined last week when finance minister Jayant Patil visited the BMC headquarters. Mr Patil could do nothing more than just lip service. “The state government is ignoring Mumbai,” a BMC official said when asked to comment on the visit of Mr Patil, who has recently been appointed guardian minister of the city.

Mr Patil’s visit comes nearly two months after chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh promised to clear Mumbai’s dues in 7-8 days. He had convened a meeting on June 26 to discuss issues including the state government’s outstanding dues to the BMC.
According to official statistics, of the total dues of Rs 579 crore owed to the BMC, about Rs 353 crore is part of a state grant, Rs 77 crore is the city’s share in various taxes collected for the state, Rs 33 crore is property tax and Rs 11 crore the cost towards drainage and sewage systems.

The meeting ended with the chief minister directing officials from the finance ministry and the BMC to settle the issues. The problem resurfaced when Mr Patil held his maiden meet at the BMC headquarters last week. It was pointed out that the state government has not released 15% grant under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission apart from its 50% contribution for the Rs 64 crore spent on health. According to sources, the state’s contribution towards malaria eradication along with other medical services too has not been paid yet.

Like his boss, Mr Patil too promised to look into the issues and settle it as early as possible.