Navi Mumbai: A proposed study tour of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) mayor Sujata Patil and a few accompanying corporators and officials in the US is under fire from opposition leaders.The US visit is expected to cost around Rs 28 lakh. However, details like what will be studied during this tour and how many people will be travelling at the cost of taxpayers’ money are still not known so far. It is learnt that the expenditure approval file has been kept secret and so also the purpose of the visit.Shiv Sena leaders, including corporator Kishor Patkar, have demanded that the amount should be borne by the officials personally or be donated to the drought-hit farmers. Many have also raised concerns as PM Modi is appealing to the citizens to avoid foreign tours to save foreign exchange.When contacted on the phone, Patil’s personal assistant said, “She is out of town for a few days.” He also declined to speak on any issue.House leader Sagar Naik did not respond to TOI’s call.
