Mumbai, May 5 (PTI) The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued a notice to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by approving funds for municipal councils during the election period, and has directed it to submit a detailed report.
According to officials, the MPCB held its 186th board meeting on November 25, 2025, during the period when the model code of conduct was in force for general elections to municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
As the election schedule had already been announced, prior permission from the SEC was mandatory for announcing tenders or approving development proposals and fund allocations.
However, the MPCB neither sought nor obtained prior approval from the SEC before convening the meeting or passing resolutions related to fund distribution, the commission noted.
During the meeting, the MPCB approved to invite tenders and utilise funds of around Rs 77 crore for the purchase of solid waste management equipment for municipal councils at Chiplun, Dapoli, Khed and Mandangad.
These civic bodies had sought financial assistance from the board for procuring machinery for solid waste management.
Of these, elections were going on for Khed and Chiplun civic bodies.
The SEC said it had earlier, on March 20, 2026, sought a detailed report from the MPCB following a complaint of violation of the poll code. As no response was received, a reminder was sent on March 21 this year directing the board to submit the report immediately without delay. PTI ND NP
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.