Make in India Week fire: CII pays Rs 8.06 lakh to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

MUMBAI: Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has made a payment of Rs 8.06 lakh to Solid Waste Management department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as cost incurred in clearing of debris after a fire broke out at a 'Make In India Week' programme in South Mumbai in February.

The massive fire of February 14 had gutted the entire stage for the Make in India Week's grand show held at Girgaum Chowpatty, organised by the CII.

City-based RTI activist Anil Galgali had filed an RTI query with the BMC after couple of days of the incident, seeking information regarding cleaning and cooling operations after the incident and expenses incurred for it.

The BMC in its reply furnished said it had incurred a cost of Rs 8,06,952 on the cleaning operations and that a notice would be sent to CII for the payment of the bill.

As many as 10 JCB excavators, 39 dumpers, 2 compactors and over 270 people were engaged in clearing 315 metric tonnes debris by the BMC, the reply further said.

The activist later filed a complaint with the BMC Commissioner office on March 2, stating that a criminal case should be lodged against CII if it has not made the payment.

"After we sent the bill to CII, the main organiser of the event, it has paid the amount on March 4," the civic body said in its response to the activist's complaint.

BMC had issued a notice to CII Regional Director, Western Region, on February 22 and directed the industry body to make the payment.