civic bodies

chartered accountant

RTI activist Anil Galgali

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

A Right to Information (RTI) plea has revealed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), among the richestin the country with a budget of Rs 27,258 crore, only has onein its audit and accounts department.The information was sought byand the reply was furnished by deputy chief auditor of the General Administration Department (GAD).According to the reply, the auditing department (finance) of the BMC has 1,473 staffers.“One can understand very easily how the audit department must be functioning with only one CA. This is criminal negligence. If more CAs are appointed, then certainly irregularities and corruption can be curbed,” said Galgali. “I have written a letter in this connection to,’’ he said.When contacted, BMC Deputy municipal commissioner (general administration) Sudhir Naik said, “There is vacancy in every BMC department and auditing department is no exception. As far as the issue of irregularities are concerned because of less CAs, we have a very foolproof and transparent system of auditing.’’