Sky-rocketing maintenance costs for the Surat mayor Hemali Boghawala’s bungalow are eating into the already city’s strained municipal budget, even as the municipal corporation remains allegedly rigid on implementing new projects in the city.
While the small city is already under a financial burden, the inauguration ceremony of the mayor’s bungalow at Udhna-Magdalla Road cost the corporation Rs 51,000, including a massive electricity bill. Plants that beautify the bungalow garden cost Rs 2.75 lakh, while Rs 1.46 lakh was spent on a water outlet for air-conditioners. Not just this – Rs 2.50 lakh was spent on steel utensils for the luxury residence.
Naturally, Surat citizens are outraged. “These are very heavy expenses in the name of maintenance costs that are being borne by citizens,” said Mahesh Andean, corporate, Aam Aadmi Party.
