Navi Mumbai Congress chief stops recreational centre work in Vashi, alleges BJP corporator

By Amit Srivastava

Dayavati Shewale, a Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) corporator from ward number 63 in Vashi has made a serious allegation against senior Congress leader Anil Kaushik. Shewale alleged that Kaushik used the urban development department through Thane district guardian minister Eknath Shinde and managed to get a stay order on the ongoing work of recreation centre for senior citizen at Meenatai Thackeray garden in sector 17 in Vashi for political mileage.

Shewale made the allegation during a press conference held at NMSA in Vashi on Thursday. Other senior BJP leader from the city including party’s city president Ramchandra Gharat, leader of the house in NMMC Ravindra Ithape and senior citizens of Vashi were present.

Sampat Shewale, former corporator, and husband of Dayawati Shewale said that the 70 percent work of recreation centre for senior citizens has already been completed. “The NMMC administration informed that the work of the recreation centre was stopped following order from the Guardian minister of Thane district,” alleged Shewale. He added that Guardian minister ordered stop work on the behest of local congress leaders especially Kaushik who does not want that the work of recreational centre completes and BJP corporator can take benefit in the upcoming civic election.

Shewale and his wife had won the last three elections from ward number 63 in Vash. “Since Kaushik lost the last three elections, he is using state government power to deprive the senior citizen of getting the facilitation centre,” said Shewale.

The standing committee of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation had passed the proposal in 2017. “Thre civic body had come up with a draft to develop recreation centre for senior citizens in the city’s garden in 2012. All procedures were followed to develop the recreation centre and it can accommodate 250 senior citizens once competed,” said Shewale.

Ramchandra Gharat, president of Navi Mumbai BJP said that they will bring calling attention motion in the general body of NMMC to raise the reason why the work was stopped and if they do not get a satisfactory reply, they will protest against it,” said Gharat. He added that the Mahavikas Aghadi is functioning on the behest of Congress party and this is evident that Shiv Sena leader and minister for urban development Eknath Shinde orders the stop work. Anil Kaushik was not available to comment