Civic official suspended for dereliction of duty

Veda Ramaswamy, Koparkhairane

May 31, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

In order to curb the inefficiency of work, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has resolved to take strict action against the officials found guilty of any offence. As an example of this ruling, the municipal commissioner Bhaskar Wankhede suspended Mahendra Mahadik, the sub-inspector of cleanliness department, who was in-charge of clearing of drainage system at Koparkhairane on Saturday. Along with Mahadik’s suspension, two other officers, Praveen Thorat and Satish Sangdi were given show cause notices by the commissioner.

As part of the pre-monsoon preparations, NMMC had undertaken the initiative of clearance of nullahs across the satellite city to avoid water logging two months ago. In order to keep the work in check and to see to it that it gets completed on schedule, the commissioner used to supervise the areas personally. Mahadik had sent a report to the NMMC stating that the work of clearance of nullahs at Sector 17, Koparkhairane had been completed. But on his visit to the site on Saturday, the commissioner observed that the work had been done superficially. A periscope was used by him to have a look at the work done. The detailed view showed that the nullahs had been cleared from the surface but were clogged and filled with sludge deep within. As a result of the inadequacy and false reporting of the work being completed effectively by the officers, the commissioner decided to take strict action.

“Mahadik had sent me a report of the work on the clearance of nullahs being completed successfully. But on my visit to Koparkhairane, I found that the work had not been carried out efficiently. The nullahs were filled with sewage which would have led to water logging during monsoon. Hence Mahadik was suspended,” Wankhede said adding, the two other officers were given a show cause notice and asked to reply to the same by May 31. Their work would be monitored till then and based on their work progress, their fate would be decided.

The commissioner is considering making spot visits frequently and punish the officials found guilty of any offence and facilitate the efficiency and planned completion of any project undertaken by the NMMC. “The suspension of Mahadik is a wake up call for all the other officials. He would be given a chance to explain himself and if his answer is found legit, his suspension would be reverted. But such stern actions would continue to take place against officials found guilty,” Wankhede concluded.