‘Too few meetings in the BMC’

The number of BMC’s general body meetings has gone down drastically and corporators allege that they are being deprived of an opportunity to raise people’s civic problems in the BMC house. Ever since the civic’s body current mayor Sunil Prabhu took over last year, his aggressive style has become a talking point in civic house proceedings. Not known to keep any civic issues pending, he has quickly disposed off almost all the matters on civic agenda so far. However, Congress corporator Mohsin Haider from Andheri feels that this has led to deterioration in the quality of debate in the BMC house. In a letter sent to the mayor, Mr Haider said, “Since the number of civic general body meetings have reduced drastically over the years, corporators are not getting an opportunity to raise people’s issues. The debates are also getting less. There is a need to hold as many civic general body meetings as possible to enable corporators to participate in civic proceedings.” According to civic data, only 60 civic general body meetings had been held till August this year since the new BMC house came into existence in March 2012. This is in sharp contrast to 92 house meetings held during March 1997 to August 1998. In fact, in the last 15 years there has been a regular drop in civic general body meetings. During the 18-month corresponding period, the number of house meetings held was 92 (Mar. 1997-Aug. 98), 85 (Mar. 2002-Aug. 3), 69 (Mar. 7-Aug. 8) and 60 (Mar. 12- Aug. 13). Mr Prabhu denied that there is a need for more meetings. “What is the point in calling civic general body meetings if there is no agenda left If there is more work, I have no issue holding more house meetings,” he said.