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Tezzbuzz Desk- A political controversy has started in Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the proposal to give tablets to corporators. The opposition has raised questions on this proposal of about Rs 5 to 6 crore and has called it an unnecessary expenditure. At the same time, BMC administration argues that through tablets the work can be made digital and paperless.

BMC plans to provide around 13-inch branded tablets to around 300 elected corporators. Through these devices, agendas, proposals and other important documents of meetings will be made available to corporators in digital form. The administration says that this will reduce the expenditure on paper, printing and distribution of documents and the work will also be more organized.

The opposition has raised questions on this logic. Opposition leaders say that most of the corporators already have mobiles, laptops and other digital devices. In such a situation, what is the need for BMC to spend crores of rupees and provide tablets separately?

The opposition says that this amount can be used to improve Mumbai's roads, drain cleaning, health services, waste management and other civic amenities. Therefore, before purchasing a tablet, the complete account of its utility and cost should be made public.

BMC told the means of paperless work

BMC deputy mayor Sanjay Ghadi defended the proposal, saying that corporators are given large numbers of paper documents during meetings. The same content can be made available in digital form through tablets. This will help BMC to move towards paperless system.

He also said that even during the tenure of the previous UBT government, tablets were provided to the corporators and this had facilitated their work.

After funds and vehicles, controversy over tablets

The tablet controversy has come to light at a time when politics is already heated regarding BMC's fund allocation and expenditure on public representatives. In April, the BMC standing committee had approved additional funds of Rs 58.5 crore for 15 corporators. After this, the opposition raised questions regarding the alleged unequal distribution of funds.

At the same time, there was controversy over the proposal to purchase six new Toyota Innova Crysta vehicles for elected officials at a cost of about Rs 1.5 crore. The opposition had targeted the BMC administration and the ruling parties regarding these expenses.

Opposition said it was a waste of taxpayers' money.

Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey alleged that the expenditure on tablets is a waste of Mumbai taxpayers' money. Referring to the proposal for renovation of the Mayor's bungalow and new vehicles, he said that BMC should first spend money on essential civic amenities.

Congress's BMC House leader Ashraf Azmi also termed the purchase of the tablet as wasteful expenditure. They allege that the ruling corporators are being given funds for development works, while the demands of the opposition councilors are not being given adequate attention.

Aditya Thackeray also targeted

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aditya Thackeray has also attacked the government over BMC's expenses. He alleged that the tax money received from common Mumbaikars is being used for non-essential items. He raised questions on the priorities of BMC citing the expenditure on Mayor Bungalow, new vehicles and other proposals.

UBT councilors refused to take the tablet

Shiv Sena UBT leader and leader of opposition in the assembly Kishori Pednekar said her party's corporators will not use the proposed tablets. He said that when the government talks about not incurring additional expenditure, then why are proposals for new expenditure continuously being brought in BMC.

Pednekar said UBT corporators will work manually as before instead of using digital tablets.

At present, this proposal of purchasing tablets in BMC has turned into a political debate of digitalization versus wasteful expenditure. Now the question is how much this expenditure of around Rs 5 to 6 crore will actually improve the functioning of BMC and how much direct benefit it will give to the common Mumbaikar.