Ulhasnagar Civic Body Spends ₹65 Lakh on Guwahati Tour

The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has sparked controversy by spending around ₹65 lakh on a study tour for corporators in Guwahati, Assam. The tour, which took place from July 22 to July 26, was organised by the Mumbai-based All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) to train corporators on legislative procedures, civic administration, and ward development planning.

The programme was conducted at the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, with official estimates placing the cost of accommodation, meals, local transportation, project visits, and training material at ₹52,980 per corporator. Additionally, the civic body sanctioned ₹21,740 per person towards Mumbai-Guwahati-Mumbai air travel, taking the total expenditure for the programme to nearly ₹65 lakh.

Although 76 corporators were expected to participate, a few reportedly remained absent. The controversy intensified after photographs and videos circulated on social media allegedly showed several corporators travelling with family members. This has prompted questions over whether the expenses of accompanying family members were borne privately or whether any public funds were used.

The civic administration has not issued any clarification on this aspect, and the timing of the expenditure has become the focal point of public criticism. UMC is currently battling a severe financial crunch, with outstanding liabilities reportedly touching around ₹700 crore. Several contractors' payments remain pending, while the civic body is also struggling to clear dues, including payments related to water supplied by MIDC.

Residents argue that the municipality has failed to adequately address pressing civic issues such as pothole-ridden roads, irregular water supply, poor sanitation, clogged drainage systems, and inadequate maintenance of municipal schools. Against this backdrop, many taxpayers have questioned whether spending ₹65 lakh on an outstation training programme was justified.

The Opposition Leader, Anjali Salve, has criticised the expenditure, stating that the civic administration should focus on resolving the city's pressing civic problems instead of spending public money on expensive tours. She said the municipality's priority should be strengthening basic infrastructure and improving essential public services rather than organising programmes perceived as luxurious.

The controversy has sparked a political row, with citizens accusing the civic body of prioritising luxury over essential public services. The UMC's decision to spend ₹65 lakh on the study tour has been widely criticised on social media, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in the civic body's expenditure.

In the context of Ulhasnagar's financial struggles, the expenditure on the study tour has raised questions about the civic body's priorities. The city's residents are demanding that the municipality focus on addressing the pressing civic issues that affect their daily lives, rather than spending public money on expensive programmes.

The significance of this controversy lies in the fact that it highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the civic body's expenditure. The UMC's decision to spend ₹65 lakh on the study tour has sparked widespread criticism, and it remains to be seen how the civic body will respond to the controversy and address the concerns of its citizens.

In conclusion, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation's decision to spend ₹65 lakh on a study tour for corporators in Guwahati has sparked controversy and criticism from citizens. The civic body's priorities have been called into question, and it remains to be seen how the municipality will address the pressing civic issues that affect the city's residents.