A controversy has erupted in Gujarat’s Rajkot after records showed that more than ₹46 lakh was spent on water, tea, snacks, lunch, mineral water and other arrangements during a three-day mega demolition drive by the municipal corporation. The standing committee has halted the bill and sought a written explanation from officials, while Congress has alleged misuse of public money and demanded action against those responsible.
Demolition Drive in Jangleshwar Area
The mega demolition campaign was carried out in February in the Jangleshwar area under Ward No. 16 of Rajkot East Zone. The action was taken to remove encroachments along the Aaji riverbank and TP Road.
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According to the available details, the municipal corporation demolished around 1,400 illegal constructions during the drive. More than 4,800 officials and employees from the municipal corporation, police and other government departments were deployed for the operation.
The action was described as a sensitive exercise, with civic officials saying that thousands of personnel, police staff and labourers remained on duty at the site for several days.
Food and Water Bills Draw Scrutiny
Municipal records show that arrangements were made for tea, coffee, snacks and meals for employees during the campaign. The listed expenditure included 21,310 cups of tea and biscuits, 50 plates of ganthiya-jalebi and poha, 360 plates of snacks and lunch, together amounting to ₹6,30,946.
Between February 21 and 27, the civic body also ordered 13,390 special lunch packets, masala buttermilk and 4,000 bottles of lemon-ginger sherbet, costing ₹20,68,500. Together, these two heads added up to ₹27,20,946.
Apart from the food bill, other expenses also came under discussion. Records cited spending of ₹12,40,028 on mineral water and ₹6,70,678 on mandap services. With these additions, the total expenditure linked to the demolition campaign reached around ₹46.31 lakh.
Standing Committee Seeks Clarification
The proposal drew objections when it was placed before the standing committee for approval. Committee members questioned how such a large amount could be spent on tea, snacks and meals during an anti-encroachment drive, following which the bill was temporarily stopped and a detailed clarification was sought from officials.
Congress linked the issue to corruption and accused the municipal corporation of wasting taxpayers’ money. Rajkot district Congress president Rajdeepsinh Jadeja said poor residents were losing shelter on one side while officials were allegedly enjoying expensive snacks and drinks on public funds.
Municipal officials, however, said the campaign required continuous deployment of thousands of employees for several days and that food, tea, snacks and water arrangements were made to ensure staff did not have to leave the site. They said the bill would be approved only after a full inquiry and clarification regarding the expenditure.
