The Indian Express 07.08.2012
BMC efficiency affected as crucial depts headless
Lack of leadership in crucial departments of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems to have adversely affected its efficiency and quality of service.
Over a dozen important posts in various departments of the BMC including road, solid waste management, tax and collection, IT and education, are being held by officials as an additional charge.
A BMC official said over one-third of posts at Grade One level, including higher technical and administrative posts, are either being held by officials who are temporarily ‘in-charge’ or those handling other portfolios.
Grade One level posts include chief engineers of a department, deputy chief engineers, deputy municipal commissioners, assistant municipal commissioners and municipal commissioner.
With the BMC facing flak over potholed roads and poor garbage collection services, standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator, Rahul Shewale said, “The departments are being headed by junior officials who do not have the required skills. Also, contractors are a difficult lot to handle and there is need for dynamic heads.”
S G Chitale is handling the post of chief engineer of solid waste management (SWC) of BMC. Chitale was appointed in-charge in June. Interestingly, the old waste collection contracts expired during the same month, with the department forced to handle errant contractors.
The road department is handled by a deputy chief engineer, as the chief engineer ‘in-charge’ is on leave for two months, after which he is expected to opt for voluntary retirement. The department is handled by the deputy chief engineer (road department) of western suburbs. Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani said, “The deputy engineers are academically capable. They might lack experience. Due to technical or legal difficulties they are given these posts on a temporary basis".
While the stormwater department, which handles the Rs-3,900 crore BRIMSTOWAD project to replace all old stormwater drains in the city, is headed by L S Vhatkar, who has two additional charges as the deputy municipal commissioner in-charge of Environment & Engineering department and as Director of Engineering Services.
The chief officer of Disaster Management Cell, a crucial agency during the monsoon, is also handling the charge of head of department of Information Technology Department.
