Surat civic body okays Rs308-crore work proposals in a minute

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Friday redefined the term speedy development during its monthly general board meeting. The BJP-led civic body approved development projects worth Rs308 crore within one minute! Members of the Opposition Congress described the act as ridiculous.

At the monthly general board meeting of SMC on Friday, along with different monthly reports, proposals for development projects worth Rs308 crore were also tabled and approved.

According to Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) rules, before approving the projects, councilors can discuss them and raise questions during the zero hour. However, on Friday, Surat mayor Raju Desai skipped zero hour and immediately approved all the tabled proposals.

The mayor sought oral approval from the councilors with the 90% of house comprising members from BJP, all projects received approval. The Congress members that form the Opposition were left stunned by the one-minute spree. They did try to raise the issue, but in vain, as the mayor had ordered them to remain silent.

Congress councilor, Asad Kalyani walked out of the meeting and openly burnt a copy of the agenda for the meeting outside the SMC gates. Leader of the Opposition, Babu Rayka described the act to be “undemocratic”.

“This is totally against rules of the BPMC Act and BJP has misused its strength in the house. We had a series of questions on the projects proposed in the agenda, but the ruling party kept us away from it. This is murder of democratic functioning,” Rayka said.

After the meeting, the mayor as well as other BJP leaders refrained from making any comments over the issue.