BJP derails Shiv Sena’s proposal in BMC

Mumbai: Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Wednesday, faced the ignominy of defeat within a month of assuming power in the civic body. With the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) joining hands with Opposition parties, the proposal to buy teakwood furniture for municipal schools was rejected in the civic standing committee on Wednesday.

The civic administration had tabled a proposal worth Rs 2.25 crore for purchase of teakwood chairs and tables for students and teachers in civic schools. However, BJP and opposition parties vehemently opposed the proposal, claiming that it was against the environment conservation. During the voting, Shiv Sena was isolated as BJP, the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) corporators decided to vote against the proposal.

The proposal had mentioned that student in civic schools should be supplied eco-friendly benches and desks for their seating purposes. The civic body had decided to buy 2438 chairs and 1116 tables by awarding the contract to M/s Sandeep Textiles Industries.

However, opposing the proposal, BJP group leader Manoj Kotak said, “There was no need to buy teakwood furniture as it would require cutting of a lot of trees. It would damage the environment.” The opposition members including Congress, NCP and SP, supported him, saying that the BMC should have gone for less costly furniture.

Additional municipal commissioner Pallavi Darade said, “The proposal actually is for replacement of the tables and chairs in municipal schools. Being made from teakwood, it is sturdy and durable. We have already procured modular furniture for offices and eco-friendly benches for students.”