Livid over “unresponsiveness” of the BMC assistant engineer regarding queries in the alleged golden gate scam, the Kalina residents are now planning a massive protest to draw attention of the authorities. There has been no response for 10 months, the locals said. Citizen groups have also extended their support to the cause, accusing Deepak Jadhav, assistant engineer in H-East ward, of failing to answer RTI queries related to other issues.
The Free Press Journal had reported in November that the Kalina residents had alleged discrepancies in the reconstruction work of a BMC Chowky as the civic body paid Rs 1.88 lakh just for a sliding gate. They have requested the civic chief to probe the scam, which according to them, runs to the tune of Rs 7.98 lakh.
Voice of Kalina, an advance locality management working on various civic issues and fighting corruption in Kalina, had mocked the BMC for spending a whopping amount on a simple entry gate. Dubbing it as a golden gate scam, VOK members had sent a detailed written grievance to Jadhav, however, there has been no response despite months.
In October, VOK also wrote to the additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs). “The maintenance department head is conspicuously and purposefully remaining silent to our uncomfortable queries,” said the letter. The waiting period for their response is far over. However, the assistant engineer is obviously guilty hence avoiding a reply, it added. However, the communication did not elicit any response. As VOK’s multiple letters sent to the ward officer and the BMC chief have gone unheard, the residents have decided to protest outside the H-East ward office.
On December 2, Mumbai Citizens Forum wrote a separate letter, saying, “The very purpose of the RTI Act is being defeated by delay and deny technique of the officer. Our repeated complaints against him to your office has met with silence. We will be compelled to protest peacefully outside the ward office if no corrective measures are taken.”
Clarence Pinto, a member of VOK, said, “We had submitted a detailed complaint regarding the Kalina Chowky reconstruction work. The Free Press Journal even reported about it, but the official has not replied to our queries.” He continued, “There are various matters pending at his end since long months and it becomes very difficult to take them forward. The residents cannot keep filing appeals as it takes a long time for us to receive any substantial information. Therefore, they only have one option left and that is to protest outside the ward office.”
Talking to this newspaper, Jadhav said, “We are taking action in the Kalina Chowky reconstruction work. It will take time since we have to check all the accounts, but we ensure that we will recover the extra amount paid to the vendor.”
