After rain problem, a storm in civic body

The issue was raised through point of information in the meeting and discussion took place for over three hours. Shiv Sena leader Shyam Deshpande alleged the money allotted for construction of nallah and storm water drainage has gone in drains as the civic administration has failed to carry out quality work.”It is a shame the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had criticised the pathetic condition of Mutha river that passes through the city. This is despite funds were allotted for development. Thus, I would request the Union minister to carry out inquiry on the use of money for the project,” he said.

Former mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale said the civic administration has turned a blind eye to irregular infrastructure development in the city. Not a single builder in the city leaves the natural stream intact while carrying out development. Either the stream is diverted blocking the normal flow of water,” she said. “I did not want to discuss it in the meeting, but I am frustrated with their response,” Bhosale said, urging the civic administration to take action against contractors using poor quality pipes for drainage pipeline. 

Congress corporator, Arun Dhimdhime, said the senior civic staff should start taking responsibility of the failures, instead of holding junior staff guilty. “Senior civic staff do not move out of their offices and municipal commissioner should bring senior officers to task, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal and Congress corporator Arun Dhimdhime got engaged in war of words on reminding each other of their respective responsibilities. Rajpal said, “It was wrong to say the Mayor is not keeping a tab on the administration. I attend all the functions, while not many corporators are present.” Responding to this, Dhimdhime said, “The Mayor attends the function in the capacity of a chief guest. Attending functions does not mean all the problems of citizens are resolved. All corporators cannot keep aside the problems of citizens and get busy in attending functions.”

Cong-NCP divide
The ruling NCP-Congress alliance stood divided in the general body meeting on Monday as the road development work proposal by NCP corporator was rejected in the House after the Congress voted against it. NCP corporator Sanjay Nande had proposed for road development in his ward in Katraj area. Congress corporators opposed the proposal and urged for voting. Congress voted against the proposal and rejected the proposal. The NCP-Congress alliance have been sharing power in the civic body since October 2009 after the Shiv -BJP alliance snapped ties with the NCP ahead of Assembly polls.