MMRDA owes BMC Rs 2.76 crores towards cleanliness charges for BKC

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been tardy in paying the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation dues for sweeping charges for Bandra Kurla Complex. This after three reminders, of which the last one pegged the dues to be at Rs 2.76 crores on November 11, 2016.

The sweeping charges are for the Bandra Kurla Complex, whose development and growth is looked after by the MMRDA. Planned as the city's new business district area to avoid concentration of businesses at one place, MMRDA entered into a contract with the BMC to ensure that the roads in the BMC are swept. However, after two years and as many reminders to pay the dues, the MMRDA is yet to pay the amount.

The information was provided under RTI to applicant Anil Galgali, who had sought information about the amount MMRDA has to pay up . As per the reply provided by the BMC,it entered into an agreement with MMRDA to have sweeping machines clean BKC road from May 25, 2014. The MMRDA was to pay Rs 1.09 crores for one year from that period which included supervision charges.

However, with no payments made, the dues went on increasing as time passed. The dues from May 25, 2015 to May 24, 16 stood at Rs 1.14 crores and from May 25, 2016 to October end 2016, it was Rs 52.63 lakhs.

"We have not received their (BMC's) latest letter. But from the information I have, we have already paid some amount to them. Some other is remaining and that will be paid in some time. I do not have the exact details with me of how much amount is left," said Prakash Nandpure, chief engineer of MMRDA