Picture used for representational purpose only

MUMBAI: Opposition members in BMC ’s standing committee slammed the civic administration for its decision to spend Rs 6 crore to hire private individuals through a state government agency to handle its Twitter accounts. They also asked why a private individual, who works in the chief minister office on a fellowship programme, was hired.

They alleged that the state government was trying to control BMC through these recruitments. The issue was raised by the members on Wednesday after the civic administration moved a proposal to appoint an agency to handle the Twitter accounts of local ward offices and crucial departments for three years at a cost of Rs 6 crore.

The ruling party in BMC, Shiv Sena, and BJP were in favour of the proposal and they cleared it with a majority. Samajwadi Party corporator, Rais Shaikh, said at the meeting, “The civic administration is moving toward privatization. Today, such private people are managing the BMC, which is a bad practice.”

Municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had earlier worked in the chief minister’s officer for over four years as principal secretary, where several professionals had joined on fellowships.

A few of these individuals have now joined BMC on contract.

Opposition leader in BMC and Congress corporator Ravi Raja said, “BMC needs to strengthen its IT department to handle this work instead of hiring people from outside and wasting taxpayers’ money.”

