The Times of India   04.08.2012

'Want city to be second best in country'

NAGPUR: City gets its own son as the new municipal commissioner. Shyam D Wardhane who had left the city 35 years ago is now back as the new municipal commissioner. This may prove to be a positive step for city's development. "State government has assigned me with the responsibility to develop the city as its my native place.

It's a challenging task for me and my top priority will be to develop the city as the second best in the country after Chandigarh," he said after assuming charge, on Friday evening.Sources told TOI that Wardhane had to rush to the city to take over charge from the officiating municipal commissioner and collector Saurabh Rao as per the directives of chief secretary Jayant Kumar Bhantia.

Wardhane had actually planned to assume charge either on August 6 or on 13 due to a weeklong training programme that he had to attend. Now, he will leave for training till August 13 after holding a meeting of the heads of the various departments at NMC, on Saturday.When asked about the advantage of being a native of the city, Wardhane said that there were no such advantage as never been in the city after completing education.

"I went to Mumbai in 1977 and used to come to the city just to attend family programmes. Also, I have never worked in any civic body. But I have worked as joint secretary in Urban development department, CIDCO and MMRDA the experience from which will come handy in my present posting. Government is working on a 20-years-agenda of urban development which I am well aware of. First I will learn the problems faced plaguing the city and then plan my agenda accordingly. I need valuable contributions from my staff and also cooperation from the citizens," he said.On being asked whether he was aware of the issues plaguing the city, he said that the city is vibrant and in developing stage.

"It's also a happening city. Need is to convert the city into a developed one. I was dealing with the issues of drought-hit situation up to a day before. Now the nature of the work is totally different. Therefore, I have directed the officials to come up with a short analysis of respective departments. I will be on target once I go through the situations prevailing here," he said.In an interesting move which depicts the nature of new civic chief, Wardhane accompanied Rao up to the entrance after taking over charge from him. Soon after being welcomed by the officials, he addressed the media and surprised all the officials by heading towards the office of mayor, Anil Sole. He met Sole at his office and introduced himself to the chairman of standing committee Dayashankar Tiwari, leader of ruling party Praveen Datke and other office bearers.