Ashwini Mate, health committee chairperson and Shiv Sena corporator from Ghatkopar, has demanded that the civic body allow her to attended functions outside the city in her official car.
A civic panel chief wants an official car for drives across the state though the rule book says that out-of-town trips are personal, and hence not allowed without payment. Her argument: being a rich corporation, it looks odd when its representative has to pay up to meet civic functionaries from other cities in the state. Needless to say, it has spurred a debate within the civic body.
Ashwini Mate, health committee chairperson and Shiv Sena corporator from Ghatkopar, has demanded that the civic body allow her to attended functions outside the city in her official car.
“The BMC is the biggest corporation in the state and many gram panchayats and other local self governments across the state invite me to guide them. It looks awkward that a civic panel chief cannot meet them in her official car,” Mate said.
But her point may be moot, if past statistics are anything to go by. A senior official from the logistic department of the BMC said that Mumbai’s corporators have regularly used their official cars for personal use, their destinations ranging from tourist spots like Goa, Mahableshwar and Ganpatipule, to pilgrimage centres like Shirdi and Tuljapur.
“The BMC sent them notices to pay the amount but no one bothered, and the BMC is now struggling to recover dues in excess of Rs11 lakh from them. They insist the tours were ‘official’,” he said.
BJP group leader Ashish Shelar has opposed the demand. “It is not right for representatives to spend public money for personal use,” he said.
Between March 2008 and August 2009, 15 corporators of the Shiv Sena and the BJP used their official vehicles, to travel to destinations outside city limits.
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