MMRDA, the Maharashtra government body that has sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crores for Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial, has been kept in the dark on appointment of Architect & Project Manager for the upcoming memorial to be constructed in erstwhile 'Mayor Bungalow' at Shivaji Park.
The 9 Member Memorial Committe headed by Shiv Sena Party Chief Uddhav Thackeray has made these appointments, without consulting MMRDA, An RTI enquiry by RTI Activist Anil Galgali has revealed. An opportunity for global competition for appointments of architects for designing this Mumbai landmark has thus been lost. The legality & practicality of this move has been questioned & the issue is being debated as to how can Uddhav Thackeray make these appointments without taking Maharashtra Government agencies in the loop, When the land allocation and construction cost are all being bourne by the state.
RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from MMRDA on the functioning of the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial, including the details of appointment of Architects and Project manager. Galgali was informed that the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Committee Chairman has appointed the Architect & Project Manager and they do not have any details on these appointments. Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Chairman had written a letter to MMRDA Commissioner dated 1st March 2019 informed him that Abha Narain Lamba & Associates has been appointed as Architects & Project Manager Consultants for preparing the detailed plan, budget estimates & tender process for the memorial, right upto the completion of the projected.
The letter mentioned that a contract has been signed with Abha Narain Lamba Associates and that this proceedure was conducted in a transparent manner, following the Government rules as laid down by the Public works Department. Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial has also requested MMRDA to pay it professional fees to Abha Narian Lamba & Associates.
A high powered committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Maharashtra vide Govt. order dated 4th December 2014 was formed to give its recommendations on the construction of the memorial. While Uddhav Thackeray had been appointed as Chairman of the Memorial committee, Minister Subhash Desai has been named as the Member Secretary. Poonam Mahajan, Aaditya Thackeray, Shashikant Prabhu are the members & Chief Secretary, Urban Development Secretary, Law & Judiciary Principal Secretary & BMC Commissioner are ex-officio members.
Anil Galgali has written to the Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stating that while he had no intention to oppose the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial in Memory of Shri Balasaheb Thackeray, he is pained that the architect & project manager have been appointed without holding a global competition for designing this landmark. MMRDA is well equipped in handling such projects & appointments by the memorial are not appropriate.
No comments:
Post a Comment