BMC’s printing press fears shutdown

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) printing press, which was set up by the administration at Byculla, Mumbai, is struggling due to poor maintenance and lack of sufficient printing equipment.

 

BMC thus started signing print orders with private contractors leaving the home press under-utilised.

 

One of the early issues of print outsourcing was highlighted a year ago, when the BMC’s press lost an order of printing around 2.5 lakh posters for dengue and malaria awareness to a private firm. “Corporators at BMC demanded a vigilance enquiry on the working of the press but no report has been submitted yet,” said Samajwadi Party member Rais Sheikh, to a leading daily newspaper.

 

According to Sheikh, despite allocating a fund of Rs 10-crore for the year 2015-16, the press has not been revamped. “We have all the resources to work for 200 days continuously, but the administration is not giving us work,” added secretary of Municipal Majdoor Union, Ramakant Bane. 

 

A member of top management at the press reasons the delay in maintenance contract to administrative procedures.

 

Insiders are of the view that such contracts signed between private companies and corporation can be a loss-making venture for the administration and that the press committee should intervene.

 

The PrintWeek India team was unable to source a comment from BMC officials.