No cash for toilets, but lakhs for mobiles

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No cash for toilets, but lakhs for mobiles

As reported by Kiran Tare, DNA, Sunday, August 10, 2008

Mobile phones from junior officers will be taken away after an RTI query revealed more was being spent on their phone bills than on the area's development

While the administration of the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is struggling for funds for development work, it has come to light that its officials and various committee heads have spent as much as Rs31 lakh on mobile phone charges in the last two years. The expenditure increased because officials were provided new handsets every year.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) official Pramod Patil resorted to the Right to Information Act (RTI) to uncover this fact. The query revealed that the MBMC has provided mobile phones to almost 106 officials and committee heads. It has spent Rs6.4 lakh on handsets and Rs25 lakh on subsequent phone bills.

An MBMC official said, "There isn't a single mortuary in Mira-Bhayender. We need around Rs30 lakh to set up a good mortuary for the seven lakh residents of the city. The MBMC does not have a drinking water purification plant either. There are not enough public toilets, and only one public library. Students in MBMC schools did not get uniforms until three months into the academic year. All these projects could have been undertaken had the corporation not wasted money on mobile phones."

According to Patil, "Of the 106 handsets, 50 are the more expensive kind, with music and camera facilities. Most officials sit in the office and do not have outdoor duty. They do not need mobile phones. In response to the RTI query, the urban development department has admitted there is no provision in the law to provide mobile phones to junior municipal officials."

MBMC commissioner RR Jadhav said: "I have no idea if the administration has spent so much on mobile phones. I think the amount might be less, but if Patil has drawn up this figure under the RTI, it might be true." He added: "I will personally look into the matter. We will withdraw the mobile phones given to Class II and III officers, and try to keep the expenditure down."

DNA - Mumbai - No cash for toilets, but lakhs for mobiles - Daily News & Analysis