For what purpose were the MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) funds utilized for the Doongerwadi bunglis initially earmarked? According to an annexure to a note by the district officer, Bombay, Chandrashekhar Oak, the monies allotted through the good offices of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislator of the Maharashtra Assembly, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, was "to lay down paver blocks at Parsi cemetery, Banganga, Mumbai and its beautification.” The office implementing the work is stated to be the "Mumbai Hutments Improvement Committee,” and the amount sanctioned was Rs 9,00,000. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees and others claimed it to be Rs 10,00,000.
These details were obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application to the Mumbai City District (Planning Branch) dated September 7, 2011 filed by community activist and Congress Party worker Mehernosh Fitter of Dadar. In another RTI application to the office of the Charity Commissioner (CC), Fitter asked for copies of the Doongerwadi trust deed, letters and files "pertaining to the recent repairs carried out” through the MLA funds and "how much funds (were) provided for repairs and renovation of Doongerwadi.” Fitter also asked for the "audited true copy of the BPP accounts for the past three years.”
Writing on behalf of the Save Doongerwadi Action Committee (SDAC) Fitter inquired "what was the need to take funds from outside the community? ...lakhs of rupees have been spent on litigation, council and lawyers fees... Our Doongerwadi grounds are the place of the last rites for our deceased brethren and not a place to felicitate a politician with flowers and garlands for sanctioning a paltry amount.” Lodha was honored by the BPP on August 28, 2011 at Doongerwadi for arranging the funds.