Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday clarified that no separate organisation has been appointed and no additional publicity campaign has been ordered for Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde’s office, after reports claimed that around Rs 25 lakh would be spent on the Mayor’s social media publicity.
The clarification came amid a political row over a proposal involving an expenditure of Rs 25,12,786 for a one-year period to manage and promote the Mayor’s social media presence. The proposal was to be placed before the BMC Standing Committee, prompting questions from the Opposition over the need for additional expenditure from the civic exchequer.
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The BMC said M/s Runtime Solutions Private Limited has now been granted a one-year extension to manage the civic body’s social media handles. The Mayor’s office maintained that the company in question has already been handling the work for the past two years.
MAYOR RITU TAWDE DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN CONTRACT
Mayor Ritu Tawde said she had no role in deciding the company that would handle the work and denied any interference in the tendering process.
“I had submitted a letter requesting that my work reach the media. I have no involvement in deciding who gets the contract. There is absolutely no interference from the Mayor in this matter. Stop dragging the Mayor’s name into politics,” Tawde said.
She also wrote to the BMC requesting that she be informed about all proposals related to her office.
OPPOSITION QUESTIONS RS 25 LAKH EXPENDITURE
Leader of the Opposition Kishori Pednekar criticised the Mayor and questioned the expenditure on social media management. She claimed that Rs 25 lakh was being spent on managing the Mayor’s social media, in addition to Rs 10 lakh spent during the preceding three months.
Pednekar demanded an explanation from the civic administration over the alleged expenditure on the Mayor’s publicity.
The issue also drew criticism from Amey Ghole, the Shiv Sena group leader in the BMC. Despite being from the ruling Shiv Sena, Ghole said the administration should first assess whether such expenditure was necessary.
“Shiv Sena’s stance is that any expenditure must be analysed first. If an expense can be avoided, it naturally should be. The burden of expenditure should not be imposed on the citizens of Mumbai. The administration should not simply bring forward estimates like this Rs 25 lakh proposal,” Ghole said.
The controversy has put the spotlight on the BMC’s expenditure on social media and publicity at a time when questions are being raised over the need for a separate allocation for the Mayor’s office.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
