City collector told to freeze BEST accounts

Mumbai: The state government directed the city collector to freeze two accounts of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST), which is facing a severe financial crisis. Since June 2010, transport tax and nutrition surcharge of close to Rs 500 crore has not been paid to the state government.

However, after the intervention of the transport minister Diwakar Roate, the bank accounts rem-ain operational. The Ba-nk of India and Central Bank of India accounts were frozen and later on the process stayed after intervention of Mr Raote.

Mr Roate said, “In the interest of the Mumb-aikars and BEST employees, I have stayed the ord-er till Diwali festival, as the government doesn’t want to spoil the spirit of Diwali for BEST employees as well as the Mumbaikars.”

He also expressed his anger over the behaviour of the general manager Surendra Bagde who is responsible to operate the services. Mr Roate said, “The GM should have approached the government for this issue. BEST committee chairman, Ashish Chembu-rkar, along with a BEST official had come to req-uest the state to give a stay order at 7.30 pm.”

Senior BEST official said that the notice were issued to pay the dues but we were unable to do so with in the time period.