Dustbin demand: BMC to allow corporators to use mayor’s fund

Ahead of the civic elections next year, corporators had alleged that they were not being allowed to buy and distribute dustbins despite a proposal passed last month.

After the corporators raised a hue and cry over funds to buy dustbins for their wards, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to tweak the rules for mayor’s fund.

The move will allow corporators, who claimed that they have exhausted their fund, to use the mayor’s fund for dustbins. (Hindustan Times)

The move will allow corporators, who claimed that they have exhausted their fund, to use the mayor’s fund for dustbins.

Ahead of the civic elections next year, corporators had alleged that they were not being allowed to buy and distribute dustbins despite a proposal passed last month.

“I have exhausted my corporator’s fund but if I want to undertake some development work in my ward using the mayor’s fund, why is the civic body creating a hurdle?” said Trushna Vishwasrao, Shiv Sena group leader.

In reply to queries, the accountants department of BMC had said the corporators are free to buy dustbins from the corporator’s fund.

Every year, the mayor allocates Rs100 crore to each party, which is then divided among corporators.

If one wants to use the mayor’s fund, the purchase should be related to capital expenditure.

Capital expenditure is money spent on buying or maintaining fixed assets such as land, buildings and equipment. So going by rules, the corporators cannot use the mayors’ fund for buying dustbins.

Following the objection by corporators in the standing committee, the BMC has agreed to remove the clause.

In the BMC, the country’s richest civic body, every corporator gets Rs60 lakh at the start of the financial year. The fund is meant to be utilised for local development work as per the proposals mooted by the corporator. There are 227 corporators for the same number of electoral wards in Mumbai.

Elected representatives will not be able to use the corporator’s fund from December 7 as the BMC goes to polls in February 2017.