CSMC general body meeting likely to be stormy on Friday

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The first regular general body (GB) meeting of the municipal corporation has been scheduled for March 27 at 11 am. In the meeting, several administrative proposals from the civic administration, along with non-official proposals from corporators, will be presented for approval. Some corporators have also sought detailed information from the administration in the form of questions, which may put the administration under considerable pressure. Disputes over certain issues are also likely.

The mayoral election was held on February 10, followed by a meeting to appoint members of the standing committee and subject committees. This will be the first regular meeting for routine business. In the meeting, the administration has requested approval for the total expenditure incurred on installing an equestrian statue of Mahatma Basaweshwar. The original estimate was Rs 1.49 crore, but the actual cost has risen to Rs 2.67 crore. Similarly, the corporation has procured a pothole-filling machine, and Rs 70.86 lakh will be required for purchasing materials for pothole repairs. Approval for this expenditure has been sought.

Corporators’ proposals

Corporator Tryambak Tupe has demanded the installation of a statue of Sawarkar in Jai Vishwabharati Colony. Appasaheb Hiwale has proposed naming a square in Deolai as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk. Anita Ghodele has suggested naming the square at Himalaya Residency gravel road on Beed Bypass as Jijau Chowk, and the Nakshatrawadi junction on the Solapur–Dhule National Highway as Shri Vishwakarma Chowk. Kirti Shinde and Anil Makariye have proposed granting “Class C pilgrimage site” status to Ganesh Sabha and Varad Ganesh Temple in Samarthnagar. Seema Salve and Anil Makariye have also proposed a similar status for the Samarth Ram Temple in the same area.

Sharp questions from corporators

Corporator Afsar Khan has raised issues related to the city’s water supply, new pipelines, and elevated storage reservoirs (ESRs). Tryambak Tupe has questioned the number of weekly markets, who has been awarded the market at Shahanoorwadi Dargah, and whether tenders were issued. He has also asked how many BOT projects have been approved and where they will be implemented, as well as how many properties have been given on lease by the administration in the past six years. Questions were also raised regarding the underground drainage scheme and hoardings in the city.

Vaishali Korde highlighted issues such as water supply, stray dogs, compensation to property owners on Jalna Road, and faulty drainage lines. Feroz Khan questioned whether Rs 22 crore has been recovered from the manpower-supplying agency, who is responsible, and also raised concerns over the appointment of CAFO Santosh Wahule. He further questioned the group housing scheme, land allotted to a municipal school in Mitmita, and whether compensation has been paid to the landowner. Ashok Hiwrale raised questions regarding Class IV employees.