Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Despite the municipal corporation being burdened with a debt of nearly Rs 1,600 crore, four senior officials are set to travel to Switzerland and France on a study tour from May 16 to 23. The administration has approved the visit, which is expected to cost around Rs 40 lakh. The proposal has already sparked controversy even before the tour begins.
The visit is being organised under a programme on earthquake engineering, tsunami disaster management, and smart city capacity building. The delegation includes deputy director (Town Planning) Manoj Garje, deputy commissioner Ankush Pandhare, executive engineer (roads) Balasaheb Shirsat, and town planner Kaustubh Bhave. The civic administration has recently granted approval for the tour. Reliable sources indicate that the expenditure will exceed Rs 40 lakh.
The municipal corporation is already facing a severe financial strain. The accounts department reportedly lacks funds to clear dues of employees who retired two to three years ago, with arrears exceeding Rs 84 crore. Similarly, payments due to contractors have reached Rs 284 crore. The Corporation also does not have sufficient funds to contribute its share to various Central and State Government welfare schemes. In such a situation, organising a study tour has drawn sharp criticism from elected representatives.
What is the benefit of the study tour?
Questions are being raised about how the city will benefit from this tour. The city does not frequently experience earthquakes, nor has it ever faced a crisis like a tsunami. Besides, the technologies used for construction in smart cities abroad may not be directly applicable here.
Previous study tours
In the past, when the city was grappling with severe waste management issues, civic officials had undertaken study tours to cities such as Indore and others. However, these visits have yielded little to no tangible benefit for the city. Many of the officials involved have since retired, and the reports submitted are believed to have been shelved. Despite this reality, another controversial study tour has now been planned.
Report submission mandatory
Manoj Garje, Deputy Director (Town Planning) and head of the delegation, said that the tour has been organised by the administration. Upon return, a report must be submitted detailing observations and recommending measures that could be implemented in the city in the future.