The BMC has given laptops to its corporators but doesn't want them to use it. At a time when public authorities are going digital, the BMC administration has rejected permission to a Shiv Sena corporator from giving an 'e-speech' using a laptop in the general body meeting.

Avkash Jadhav, a nominated Shiv Sena corporator, will now have to deliver a conventional speech on the annual BEST budget, despite having made a presentation on his laptop. The BMC's municipal secretary's department has rejected permission citing technical reasons. "I had informed them well in advance about my powerpoint presentation. I wanted to make an e-speech so that I could give statistics on BEST. But they have not allowed me. We have been given laptops but we can't use them, so what is the point? We have e-tendering and the BMC top brass says we are going digital but we can't use laptops," Jadhav said.

Jadhav, a history professor at St Xavier's College, had written to mayor Snehal Ambekar requesting her to allow him to deliver an e-speech. However, officials from the mayor's office said that she could not allow an e-speech since the MS department had not made any provision for a laptop-based presentation.

With an aim to reduce the paper work and to provide online access to civic proposals, the BMC had in 2012 given all its 227 corporators laptops fitted with a customized software spending over Rs7.5 crore on the laptops. However, corporators complained that due to lack of Internet and software services, they were unable to use these laptops.

"If we are allowed to use laptops and give presentations as part of the budget speech, we will be able to present our views better. Only then will the BMC actually go digital. I am revealing details of a survey of 120 BEST bus conductors and drivers on the problems faced by them," Jadhav said.

MS department officials, in reply, said that the old BMC council hall was not equipped. "The hall is a heritage structure and is not equipped for such computer-based presentations. Facilities for presentations can be made in other halls which are new. Corporators can make presentations during other meetings if we are informed in advance," said an official.

Jadhav will now deliver a conventional speech on Wednesday. Mayor Snehal Ambekar did not respond to calls and text messages while Municipal Secretary Narayan Pathade was not available for comment.