BMC standing committee demands white paper on cash-strapped BEST

Sick of having to carry the debt-ridden BEST's burden on its back, BMC councillors have asked how long the municipal corporation would have to shell out funds for the loss-making enterprise.

In order to give the woebegone undertaking financial benefits, the BMC sanctioned Rs150 crore for it, and of this, Rs100 crore has already been released.

At a standing committee meeting, MNS leader Sudhir Jadhav and BJP leader Dilip Patel demanded that just like the BMC, the state government should provide subsidies and financial help to BEST, considering it is a public undertaking.

Corporators across parties demanded for an account of how the BEST intended to use the funds it has been granted. In 2011, the BMC had given a loan of Rs1,600 crore to BEST. But the money was spent to reimburse employees' arrears, settle power bills and pay banks.

In light of the situation, all party leaders have demanded that the BEST management submit a white paper before the standing committee, according to which a special meeting will be organised, said the civic standing committee president Yashodhar Phanase.