The state government had asked the BMC to hand the police personnel over in view of the tabling of the Srikrishana report in the assembly. It has, however, not returned them, saying they will now be deployed for the forthcoming Ganeshotsav festival. The BMC had implemented the drive with the aid of city, traffic and railway police.

Mayor Nandu Satam told reporters after the Mayor-in-Council meeting that at railway stations from where the police personnel were removed, the hawkers were back on the job. One additional commissioner of police, four police inspectors, 14 police sub-inspectors, 14 assistant sub-inspectors, 28 constables, 84 policemen and 10 women police had been put on the job, and their salaries were being borne by the BMC.

However, the BMC, addedSatam, is not complaining about this move. ``If any law and order problem had arisen (after the tabling of the report), the BMC would have been blamed for not parting with the police,'' he said. Additional commissioner of police in charge of law and order, Dr P S Pasricha, has reportedly assured the BMC that all hawkers will be removed from the stations within the next three to four days. However, the hawkers at Dadar are still to be evicted, although Satam had announced that action would be taken against them.

The MiC has also decided to waive the penalty of those penalised by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking for buying tickets and travelling for a longer distance than was specified. The total penalty collected from offenders between October and December, 1997, was Rs 7,819. However, as most of those who could not pay the penalty on the spot had furnished wrong addresses, the BEST would have had to spend much more than the penalty amount in locating them. informed Satam. Thiswaiver, he clarified, would not apply to defaulters on electricity bills.

Satam also informed that the cost of renovation of sheds for the market next to the Dadar pumping stations had shot up to Rs 2.33 crore. The estimated cost was Rs 1.3 crore.

Two of the electronic boards to be put up at junctions to inform motorists about road conditions during floods were ready for use, added Satam. The 8ft by 15 ft boards will be displayed at Haji Ali and Girgaum.