MCOCA to be invoked in road scams

The Maharashtra government is mulling over enforcing the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against contractors, officials and others involved in road corruption cases in Mumbai. The state government also ensured that the blacklisted contractors would not get any other government work after a few members in the Assembly insisted. The issue of potholes and bad road conditions in the city reflected in the state Assembly on Friday, as the leaders from Congress, NCP and BJP attacked the BMC, which is led by Shiv Sena.

In his reply, minister of state for urban development, Ranjit Patil said that the state would seek the law and judiciary department’s opinion on whether or not the MCOCA could be implemented in road corruption cases. “We will take legal opinion if the MCOCA or Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act can be enforced against stakeholders of road contracts in corruption cases. The government will ensure that blacklisted contractors do not get new work from the government,” Mr Patil informed the House.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar demanded that road contract corruption should be treated as an organised crime. He also said that citizens who pay road tax should be given a concession considering the bad condition of roads. “BMC officials and engineers have been booked in connection with corruption cases, but why have third-party auditors and consultants not been booked One has to treat it as an organised crime. Also, the government collects property tax every year from citizens, which include road tax. In 2014-15, Rs 498 crore, 2015-16 Rs 578 crore and in 2016-17 Rs 691 crore was collected as road tax. The government should give 50 per cent concession in tax owing to bad road conditions,” Mr Shelar said.

Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad questioned the minister on funds spent on filling up potholes. In the reply, Mr Patil said in 2013-14 Rs 771 crore was spent on filling potholes, while in 2014-15 Rs 20,49 crore, in 2015-16 Rs 1,633 and in 2016-17 Rs 2,884 crore (estimated) was spent on the same. He also said that till June 27, 2016 there were 1,335 potholes in the city.

Objecting to this, Congress MLA Nitesh Rane recalled that BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta had stated that there were only 33 potholes in the city, and demanded action against officials for giving misguiding information.

Making serious allegations against the standing committee of the BMC, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that an inquiry should be conducted against it. “It has been observed that only 5-6 contractors get work every time. The standing committee is also involved in the corruption and its members should be probed,” he said. The minister agreed that a few contractors repeatedly get contracts but did not speak on the standing committee’s alleged role in corruption.