PTI By

MUMBAI: It took Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over Rs 8 lakh to clear 315 metric tonnes of debris that was the result of massive blaze at an 'Make in India' event last month, reply to an RTI query has revealed.



The civic body also said that it has sought the total expenditure incurred for removal of the gutted material from CII, the organiser of the event.



RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the civic body about clearing of the site after the fire that broke out during the 'Maharashtra Rajani', a cultural show held at Girgaum chowpatty on February 14, as part of the week-long MII programme.



"After the fire incident, the BMC had to clean almost 315 metric tonnes of debris and damaged material, for which it incurred Rs 8,06,952," Assistant Engineer of Solid Waste Management Department (D ward) of BMC informed this to Galgali's query.



The reply further says that the work was executed by D ward staff as well as people roped in from non-government agencies.



The debris was cleaned up by the next morning with the help of 10 JCB machines, 39 dumpers (that made total 67 trips), two compactors, 198 labour staff and 80 supervisory staff in two shifts, it said.



"The cost incurred for the clean-up has been intimated to the organisers of the show, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and they have been asked to pay up. But we are yet to get a response from the organisers," the reply added.



The BMC had dashed off this demand notice to Regional Director of the CII, Western Region, on February 22 and directed the industry body to reimburse the expenses.



The civic administration's notice to the event organiser said, "Since it was the duty of the event organiser to arrange to clear the chowpatty and hence are liable to compensate for the expenses made by BMC." .