Mayor’s husband fails to get lawn contract

What may be termed as a blow to favouritism, the BMC has decided to float tenders of contract for the lawn attached to the Ghatkopar swimming pool.        

Mayor Shraddha Jadhav’s husband Shridhar Jadhav, who runs a marriage decoration business, wanted the lawn on lease. But when Shiv Sena’s ally BJP raised objections, the BMC turned down the request.    

Objecting to Manohar Decorators’ (Shridhar Jadhav’s business entity) plea, BJP corporator Bhalchandra Shirsat wrote to civic chief Swadhin Kshatriya that if the BMC leased out the lawn to private contractors, they would monopolise the business and the lawn would be beyond the reach of the common man.   

Deputy civic chief Chandrashekhar Rokade, who is in charge of gardens and pools, said Jadhav had applied for the lawn. “But the BMC decided to invite a tenders for it,” he said.       

“The BMC earns Rs 16lakh revenue per year renting out the lawn, and Manohar Decorators is willing to pay only Rs15 lakh for a three-year contract. So, why should BMC award the contract to them,” questioned Shirsat.  

Shirsat had raised the issue in the standing committee meeting on Tuesday. Additional municipal commissioner (Projects) Aseem Gupta said that the BMC has decided to invite tenders. “The lawn will not be closed. The BMC will keep it open for marriages till March-end and then the contract will be given,” he said.  

The mayor said it was fair enough. “Each contractor will have a chance to get the contract through the tenders,” she said.