This story is from February 21, 2020

Corporators prevail, get mayor to order resumption of works stalled by Tukaram Mundhe

Mayor Sandip Joshi on Thursday directed the civic administration to lift ban imposed by municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe to stop development works irrespective of whether work orders were issued or not.
Corporators prevail, get mayor to order resumption of works stalled by Tukaram Mundhe
Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe
NAGPUR: Mayor Sandip Joshi on Thursday directed the civic administration to lift ban imposed by municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe to stop development works irrespective of whether work orders were issued or not.
On February 13, Mundhe had told the special general body meeting that the NMC’s financial condition was very critical so he had no option but to stop development works whether work orders were issued or not.
He has also stopped the administration from floating new tenders.
Though Mundhe tried to draw attention of the House by presenting NMC’s Rs496 crore liabilities till January 31 and also informed about future liabilities, the corporators felt unconvinced by his justification.
Mundhe also refuted the demand of corporators to introduce one time amnesty scheme or waive off penalty imposed on defaulters of property tax and water bills. To this, mayor assured the house that a meeting of all party leaders and senior corporators along with municipal commissioner will be convened before February 29.
Senior BJP corporator Dayashankar Tiwari demanded the civic chief to table last 12 years’ balance sheet. “Even during last special general body meeting, the mayor had given the directives to the civic chief,” he said. To this, the mayor sought information from Mundhe who sought one month to submit 12 years’ balance sheet.
Mundhe, however, continued with his justification about the stoppage of new works and explained that this year’s budget target set by standing committee of Rs3,100 crore, the NMC will hardly reach Rs2,300 crore by March end.

Tiwari demanded the mayor to ask the commissioner to table year-wise liabilities of the NMC.
Tiwari and Datke also informed the house that the commissioner cannot stop works sanctioned by the standing committee. Even the administration read out the MMC Act, which clearly mentioned that the civic chief has no power to stop works sanctioned by the standing committee.
The house also unanimously decided to send back chief accounts and finance officer Mona Thakur to her original department in state’s treasury. Recently, Thakur was given additional charge of CAFO of NMC after the civic body’s CAFO had proceeded on sick leave.
The house took the decision after BJP corporator Dharmpal Meshram brought adjournment motion demanding to relieve her from the NMC. Tabling the motion, Meshram said as per act NMC, the charge of CAFO cannot be given to any person who had earlier held the auditor’s post in the NMC and Thakur had held that position.
Corporators from all the parties supported Meshram’s demand following which the mayor ruled to send back Thakur to the state government. According to sources, the demand against Thakur was made as she held back many pending bills and suggested Mundhe to stop works following financial crisis.
The ruling party also opposed the civic administration’s proposal to sanction town planning scheme of Smart City as it has many discrepancies.
Independent corporator Abha Pande questioned over functioning of counselling centres operating in 10 zones. The NMC is spending Rs33.60 lakh per annum for running 10 counselling centres but there are many irregularities like it is not functional 24X7. Even NMC is paying water and electricity bills of these centres, said Pande. Mayor directed deputy municipal commissioner to inquire in to the allegations made by Pande and table the report before the house.
Meanwhile, the house also elected nine standing committee members: BJP corporators Vijay Zalke, Pramod Karote, Khan Nasrinbano, Anil Gendre, Rajesh Ghodpage, Pramila Mathrani, Vishakha Bante, Vikram Gwalbanshi and Congress corporator Ayesha Uike. Of them, Zalke is all set to become standing committee chairman as present panel chief Pradip Pohane will retire next month.
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About the Author
Proshun Chakraborty

Proshun Chakraborty is a Senior Correspondent at The Times of India, Nagpur. He covers news on traffic, the zilla parishad, the district collectorate, the divisional commisionarate and fire control. His hobbies include surfing the net, reading and travelling.

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