Nashik Municipal Corporation plans 'firm' policy on garden maintenance

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is planning a firm policy on maintenance work at gardens across the city.

The NMC standing committee has said it will chalk out the policy and implement it with sponsors.Standing committee chairman Uddhav Nimse, at a recent meeting, directed officials from the civic garden department to table the proposals for maintenance work of all gardens so that the policy can be decided.

The issue for approval of maintenance work at the Netaji Subhashchandra Bose garden in the city by the Sheetal Majoor Bandhkam Sahakari Society, amounting to Rs 4.90 lakh, was tabled at the standing committee meeting. Committee members demanded a firm policy on maintenance work of the garden department and look for sponsors.

Vaishali Dani, a committee member, said, "We will require too much funds if we spend Rs 5 lakh on maintenance work per garden, as there are around 400 civic gardens. We must check the option of sponsors, instead of carrying out work through contracts. Some industrialists and builders are ready to carry out the work. Carrying out maintenance of the gardens through industrialists and builders will save the civic body's revenue. Hence, approval to the contract of maintenance of the gardens should not be given to any private firm or organization." She added, "NMC must choose the option of sponsors."

Municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare said, "We need to decide on principles in this connection and inviting a tender for maintenance of all city gardens will give us a competitive rate."Nimse said, "A decision on maintenance of the gardens will be taken after getting detailed information from the garden department. Thereafter, we will decide how many gardens should be given to sponsors and private firms to carry out maintenance work.