BMC House Sees Chaos Over SevenHills Hospital Transfer

The BMC House witnessed chaos on Tuesday as the Opposition, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and MNS, staged parallel proceedings. This came after the ruling alliance cleared key proposals, including the transfer of SevenHills Hospital in Marol and the lease of the 6.17-acre Century Mills plot in Lower Parel to a private developer.

The Opposition alleged that it was not given an opportunity to speak on the proposals, which included changes in land reservations and the leasing of properties. Around 15 proposals, approved by the Improvement Committee, were placed before the BMC General Body for approval. However, the Opposition walked out of the House, citing denial of speaking opportunity.

The Opposition then held a parallel civic House outside the Corporation Hall on the first floor of the BMC headquarters. In a symbolic move, BMC Opposition leader Kishori Pednekar was appointed the “Mayor”, while senior Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Milind Vaidya was designated as the “Municipal Commissioner”. The parallel House held a nearly two-hour discussion on key proposals before concluding the proceedings.

Later, an Opposition delegation met Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakane and warned that if their concerns were not heard, they would take the legal route. Pednekar alleged that the Mayor ignored the Opposition’s objections and rushed through sensitive proposals in violation of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. This, she claimed, was an assault on democracy and the Opposition’s voice.

The properties involved in the proposals are collectively worth over Rs. 20,000 crore, according to Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi. He said denying the House an opportunity to debate decisions involving such valuable land amounted to a serious suppression of the democratic process.

Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar countered that the proposals were already discussed in the Improvement and Standing Committees, and the Opposition was given an opportunity to speak. He accused the Opposition of trying to create a false narrative.

The Maharashtra Cabinet also approved a 30-year lease renewal for the Bhuleshwar Yoga Centre and allotted land in Chembur to a Buddhist mission. The Opposition has warned of legal action against the decisions, citing violation of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and suppression of democratic process.

The chaos in the BMC House highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling alliance and the Opposition. The Opposition has accused the BJP-Shiv Sena-led BMC of shutting out their voices and rushing through sensitive proposals without proper debate.

The transfer of SevenHills Hospital and the lease of the Century Mills plot are significant decisions that affect the city’s infrastructure and development. The Opposition’s concerns about the lack of transparency and democratic process in these decisions are valid and need to be addressed.

In conclusion, the chaos in the BMC House is a reflection of the deeper issues in the city’s civic governance. The need for transparency, accountability, and democratic process in decision-making is essential for the city’s development and the well-being of its citizens.