The Times of India                  11.05.2013

5 more consultative panels in NMC soon

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) may soon set up consultative committees for legal, sports, property tax, fire and power, besides the six existing committees. A discussion on this will be taken up at the general body meet on May 18. The GB will also discuss five other proposals, including a complete ban on immersion of PoP idols in city limits. However, the agenda does not mention the much-awaited budget.

Mayor Anil Sole issued a circular on Friday about the GB meeting on May 18. Six proposals are on the agenda along with 32 general body questions (GBQs). The meeting is likely to be stormy due to severe water crisis in the city, with private water operator Orange City Water Limited ( OCWL) unable to handle operation and maintenance of water works, and the controversy over direct tapping.

There is a proposal to form five more consultative committees of corporators. Five such committees exist already, including women and child welfare, water works, public works and projects, medical assistance and health, and education. The new committees will be for sports, legal, property tax, fire and power, and sanitation control and house construction.

NMC is also learnt to be planning a separate transport committee sometime in the future.

The GB will finalize guidelines for operation of these committees and the GB itself. The draft guidelines have been prepared by a committee set up by the GB on December 20, 2012. Corporators Dayashankar Tiwari, Praful Gudadhe and others were in that committee.

As for PoP idols, the GB will discuss a ban on manufacture of PoP idols within city limits and also immersing them in water bodies. The GB had given powers to the civic chief to draft a policy on this. Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane and his team have finalized the draft policy, which will be put up for the GB's approval.

One proposal is related to taking note of the permission given by Wardhane to anti-corruption bureau to file charge sheet against branch engineer of city development department Rajesh Thombare.

However, the GB agenda does not mention the budget to be presented by chairman of standing committee Avinash Thakre. It was expected in April itself, since Thakre assumed charge on March 5. However, the budget could not be finalized in April, and not listed on the agenda for the GB's May 18 meeting too.

Immediate past chairman Dayashankar Tiwari presented the budget on June 6, 2012. It was noticed and also accepted by Tiwari that much times is required for preparing the plans and bringing into realty at the NMC. Despite appreciable budget, Tiwari's performance was average following failure to implement all projects during his tenure that too in time. A big question arise whether Thakre too becoming Tiwari as against expectations of second Sandip Joshi who was successful chairman.

Meanwhile, NMC inaugurated the property tax billing system and collection counters at four zones. In yet another boost to cash-strapped NMC, the centre has also sanctioned Rs 50 crore for further improvement of e-Governance projects.