Surat Municipal Corporation splurges taxpayers’ money worth Rs 10 lakh for publicizing achievements of Central and State Governments

Sanjay Ezhawa, a social activist had applied under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to know the amount of expense by the municipal corporation for putting up advertisements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at the BRTS stations across the city.

Replying to the RTI, the Standing Committee of SMC stated that the lowest tender of RK Builders was approved for installing 12 feetX5.5feet signboards worth Rs 10 lakh at the BRTS stations across the city. The information and broadcasting ministry of the Gujarat Government ordered the civic body for putting up advertisements of PM Modi and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel at the BRTS stations.

Sanjay Ezhawa, a social activist said, “Gujarat Assembly elections are around the corner and the announcement will be made anytime soon by the Election Commission. Before that, the Gujarat Government ordered the SMC to install signboards at the BRTS stations to count the achievements of PM Modi and Gujarat CM. Rs 10 lakh expenditure by the civic body belongs to the taxpayers of Surat and it is being used for the wrong purpose”

Ezhawa added, “New signboards were installed a few months ago and now they have been removed for publicizing the achievements of the Central and State Government. These signboards are going to stay even if the elections are declared in Gujarat”