Shiv Sena, BJP in potholes row

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ directive to fill all potholes in the city within a fortnight has become the latest issue of dispute between the Shiv Sena and BJP in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Shiv Sena asked during a civic standing committee meeting whether the civic administration had been awaiting the CM’s orders to repair potholes on city roads, taking an apparent dig at the government.

Infuriated by this, the BJP gave its alliance partner a riposte that the CM had to issue the orders since the Sena is not fulfilling its own responsibilities. Alleging that there is a collusion between the Sena and road contractors, the BJP members also stormed out of the standing committee meeting to protest against the remarks.

While the issue of potholes was being discussed in the standing committee meeting, senior Sena corporator and house leader Trishna Vishwasrao asked, “Was the civic administration waiting for the CM to issue orders to fill potholes on city roads ” Irked by this, the BJP members created a furore. Amidst the row, committee chairman Shailesh Phanse called out the road repairs proposal for approval. Incensed even further, both the BJP and Opposition members staged a walkout on the issue.

“As a head of the state, the chief minister has the right to issue directives to the municipal corporation. While the Sena should have taken the civic administration to task over the pothole issue, they are hand in glove with corrupt civic officials and contractors. We had sought detailed information about measures taken to repair potholes. Instead, the proposal for pothole repairs was tabled for approval. We thus decided to boycott the standing committee proceedings,” said BJP group leader Manoj Kotak.

On Tuesday, while meeting the BJP delegation, the CM had asked the BMC to fill all potholes on city roads within 15 days.

Meanwhile, the BMC has assured that all potholes in the city would be filled by October 5. “The incessant rains were creating a problem in pothole repair works. But we have now started pothole-filling works on a war-footing basis. All potholes would be repaired by October 5,” said additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh.