India, May 28 -- The civic standing committee has sought a third-party audit into conservation efforts by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) following complaints that heritage monuments are not being properly maintained. Even as the committee debated the issue, it approved a Rs.2.37-crore contract for the maintenance of a list of 16 heritage statues and six water fountains in the Fort heritage precinct, as reported by HT on May 26.

Members of the committee, however, strongly objected to a statue of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray opposite Regal Cinema being excluded from the list. Standing committee member Shailesh Phanse said the statue was ill-maintained and the Sena had to spend on sprucing it up before important events such...