Mayor Shubha Raul demanded an inquiry against the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centre, an NGO headed by Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Jockin Arputham.
Mayor Shubha Raul demanded an inquiry against the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centre (SPARC), an NGO headed by Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Jockin Arputham, for misuse of funds collected from hutment dwellers affected by various MMRDA projects.
Raul alleged that the NGO had defaulted on payments to be made to the BMC and BEST on behalf of the 5000 families living in MMRDA rehabilitated colonies at Lalubhai Compound in Govandi, Konkaniagar at Antop Hill, and Sion Koliwada for water and electricity consumption over the past six years.
A delegation led by two Shiv Sainiks - corporator Rahul Shewale and vibhagpramukh Shashikant Shinde, along with BMC chief Jairaj Phatak, MMRDA chief engineer AV Deshinkar and a SPARC representative R Sharmila and those affected, met Raul on Thursday.
"Despite collecting Rs150 monthly as the maintenance and electricity charge from each family, SPARC did not pay the amount to the agencies. The societies based in these colonies have now received a water bill running into several lakhs along with arrears," Raul said. And BMC has threatened to disconnect water supply.
Raul has written to Phatak and Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad demanding an inquiry into funds collected by SPARC. The development, however, upset Arputham who is known for his work in improving the living standards of urban poor.
Speaking from South Africa, he said, "SPARC does not collect water charges from the residents. It is the responsibility of the societies formed by the people to pay up for them. We collect Rs150 as electricity charges from the families as they have a common meter. There are no electricity dues."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}