Congress backs BJP’s demand to scrap BMC’s PPP policy on school plot allocations in Mumbai

Mumbai: In a rare move, Congress has backed BJP’s demand to scrap BMC’s public-private partnership (PPP) policy for giving out five civic schools to private players on lease.Congress MLA Amin Patel has written to BMC chief Ashwini Bhide demanding that the current PPP policy be scrapped. Last week, Mumbai BJP president and Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam had strongly objected to the policy of allotting plots reserved for municipal schools to private institutions, demanding the immediate cancellation of the allocation of five such plots.This is yet another BMC administrator-era policy that is being opposed after the civic polls.In his letter to Bhide, Patel said: “Without completing any due process related to the PPP policy, it was implemented in a hurry and the process of allotment of five plots was done...on whose orders or with the connivance of which officers was it done...This should be investigated and strict legal action should be taken against them.”The letter further stated: “...the allocation of the five plots should be immediately cancelled and a committee should be appointed to comprehensively reconsider this policy. Also, a discussion should be held on this issue in the BMC general body so that a good and comprehensive policy can be formulated and implemented.”Last week, in a letter addressed to Mayor Ritu Tawde and the BMC commissioner, Satam had made similar observations.In his letter, Satam had said, “The policy was framed during a period when the BMC general body was not in existence, and therefore there was no detailed discussion on its terms and conditions, the role of the civic body, or the benefits accruing to the BMC. The policy was implemented in haste without adequate consultation with elected representatives and with a lack of transparency. Prima facie, it appears that the BMC’s interests have suffered under this policy.”Satam had further said that considering the larger interests of the BMC and the city, there was a need for an in-depth discussion on the issue after seeking the views of all elected representatives and experts from the education sector.Demanding corrective action, Satam had said, “BMC must immediately revoke the allotment of the five plots, appoint a committee to comprehensively review the policy, hold a detailed discussion in the civic house, and thereafter formulate and implement a balanced and inclusive policy.”