The BJP's outrage over the Rs 1,844-crores Ashray Yojana scandal has reached the Lokayukta

The BJP has filed a complaint with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari alleging theft of funds under the BMC's Ashray Yojana housing project for conservancy employees, which has been referred to the Maharashtra Lokayukta for further action. According to Vinod Mishra, a BJP representative in the BMC, the Chief Minister's Office, the Mayor, and the BMC Commissioner were all notified of the Rs 1,844-crore housing fraud, but no action was taken. In the month of December dated 17^th, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation that of a civic leaders ruled by Mihir Kotecha and Vinod Mishra had filed the complaint to the Governor. "In this regard, I am ordered to notify you that the same has been handed to the Honourable Lokayukta, Government of Maharashtra for suitable action," a Raj Bhavan secretariat official said in response to the letter.

Mishra made explosive charges about the tendering procedure in his complaint. "The contractor has increased the tender by three times the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) pricing." If the area per square foot is calculated with the amount, the total amount for the project should be Rs 1479.10 crore, according to the MCGM estimate. However, after the contractor's revised tender, the total amount for the project rises to Rs 3323.54 crores, leaving a difference of Rs 1844.44 crores when we subtract the former from the latter.

The Lokayukta is an independent statutory functionary tasked with investigating and offering suggestions, as well as redressing and rectifying any injustice caused by maladministration, and investigating and making recommendations in complaints alleging abuse of position and corruption against public servants.

Image Courtesy: @h_mcgm