Shetty had recently ordered that vehicles being provided from garages situated in the eastern suburbs to the BMC's water plants in the western suburbs be withdrawn. Since the last 20 years, vehicles used to ferry employees working at these plants, situated in Powai, Borivli and Andheri, were being supplied from of Agra Road and Belapur. However, the administration decided to do away with this arrangement, citing it as expensive.

In a letter to Mayor Nandu Satam, the union, many of whose members are employed in these plants, has threatened to launch an agitation against the deputy mayor. The BMC's move to stop the practice of providing vehicles has left drivers and workers without any work, it has alleged. According to one member, the employees were informed thatthe administration could do little on this score as the Mayor-in-Council (MiC) had taken the decision.

The drivers employed at these garages would be left with no work, and there was also a fear of their retrenchment as the administration could claim that they were eating into the corporation's revenue, added union members.

Shetty had earlier stated that 163 municipal employees at the Balkum water plant were being paid without doing any work. The workers, countered the union, had not been given any work by the department although they expressed their willingness to be shifted to another department.

Satam said he had received the letter from the union, but had forwarded it to Shetty. Shetty, on the other hand, complained that he was getting a `poor response' from employees in his department. Two weeks ago, Shetty had even decided not to sign any files if the administration failed to comply with his orders. He had asked officials to change the rules for providing water supply to citizens three months ago,which had been ignored, he claimed.