Corporators oppose NMMC move to go paperless

NAVI MUMBAI: The civic body’s move to opt for paperless work has not gone down well with the opposition corporators. They insisted that Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is violating the Bombay Provincial Corporations Act 1949 rules, which state that information about proposals and meetings has to be sent to the media and corporators by post.
On Friday, 94 corporators were provided with tablets during the general body meeting. Mayor Sagar Naik had said earlier that notices about future civic meetings and agendas would be mailed via an application designed specially for the tablets. However, the opposition claimed that NMMC is acting against the rules. “As per the Act, it is binding upon the municipal secretary to inform about the meetings and proposals to the media as well as send a copy to the corporators’ addresses by post. The civic body cannot alter the law in favour of new technology,” said Sena corporator Vithal More, expressing his reservation at the general body meeting. He said if the administration is planning to go paperless, then it must consider amending the existing laws.
The proposal to provide tablets was taken last year with a budgetary allocation of Rs 50 lakh. “Making use of modern technology is good but it has to be in tandem with the prevailing laws. Since NMMC cannot amend the laws, the claims of going paperless is going to fall apart,” said Congress corporator Namdev Bhagat.
Mayor Sagar Naik questioned the need for opposing a environmental-friendly move.
“Isn’t one supposed to move with the times? For the first three months, all work will be done on paper and also via the tablets. Later, we will study the law properly and go digital,” he said.