Deonar fire ignites Sena-BJP fight

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya wrote to CM Devendra Fadnavis, demanding SIT probe into the ‘dumping scam’ worth Rs1,000 crore

The Deonar dumping ground fire issue led to another war of words between the BJP and Shiv Sena on Monday. The leaders of both parties blamed each other for being hand in glove with contractors.

Shiv Sena leaders at the Deonar dumping ground on Monday. (Prashant Waydande)

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya wrote to CM Devendra Fadnavis, demanding SIT probe into the ‘dumping scam’ of Rs1,000 crore. He pointed fingers at Sena leaders, state environment minister and senior Sena leader Ramdas Kadam. “The BMC pays contractors to dispose of 10,000-11,000 tonnes garbage, but the city does not generate more than 8,000 tonnes of garbage. There seems to be scam of more than Rs1,000 crore,” Somaiya said in his letter to CM. Later in the evening, a Sena delegation led by mayor Snehal Ambekar met the CM and demanded a CID inquiry or a DCP-level probe.

For the past few days, the dumping ground fire issue has turned into a political slugfest. The Congress and the BJP separately staged protests and demanded closure of Deonar dumping ground. On Monday, Sena leaders, including Kadam and transport minister Diwakar Raote, visited Deonar.

He said: “The BJP is trying to target the Sena keeping in mind the civic elections. After the previous contractors’ contract was suspended due to non-compliance of work, the fires have started breaking out. The BJP leaders’ involvement with the company should be investigated. The CM should remove BMC chief Ajoy Mehta owing to failure of providing any relief.”