A Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator had demanded that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) allow councillors to use their funds for cleaning water tanks in housing societies. This, he feels, would go a long way in tackling complaints of water contamination.
The corporator concerned made this demand through a notice of motion, which is expected to be discussed by city corporators this month.
BMC supplies 3,750 million litres of water daily in Mumbai. The actual demand is 4,200 million litres. Water is brought to Bhandup Complex, where it's filtrated before being pumped to residences. However, though BMC claims it takes due care in making clean water available to residents, unclean water/suction tanks lead to water being contaminated.
"Despite BMC supplying clean water, people in societies sometimes receive contaminated water. This is because they don't clean suction tanks. And when diseases strike on account of this, residents blame the BMC or the local corporator. More than BMC, it's the local corporator who has to face the wrath of the public. Hence, a corporator should be allowed to use his/her fund for cleaning water tanks," Sudhir Jadhav, the MNS corporator, insisted.
The motion will have to be passed by the civic body as a resolution before it's considered by the municipal administration for execution.
When asked, a senior civic official said: "The motion is yet to be discussed by the corporation. If it's approved, we will look into it subject to approval by the municipal commissioner (Sitaram Kunte)."
BMC randomly collects water samples daily to test the quality of water supplied. According to BMC environment status report (ESR), 11% of the samples the corporation tested in 2013-14 was contaminated.
A corporator receives Rs 1.60 crore annually as development fund and councillor's fund. Of this, Rs 60 lakh is the corporator's fund. In the last three years, annually, each of the city's 227 councillors received Rs 60 lakh and Rs 40 lakh as corporator's fund and development fund, respectively.
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