The Indian Express                18.04.2013

‘We have taken a stern stand...Pimpri-Chinchwad will not have unauthorised constructions in future’

The problem is complex. There are approximately 1.2 lakh constructions that have come up before March 31, 2012. To handle this huge number will probably require decades. We have requested the state government to consider regularisation of these in accordance with the law. Right now we are tackling illegal constructions that have come after April 1, 2012. There are two reasons. There was a PIL in the High Court filed by a resident and the honourable High Court had given a verdict that PCMC should demolish unauthorised constructions by March 31, 2012. Now, since we referred the prior list of constructions to the government, we are of the view that the high court's order is on record. We cannot allow any more constructions. That is one reason. Number two, there is an amendment to BPMC Act that says every municipal authority has to appoint a designated officer for preventing unauthorised constructions. And if it does not happen, he is supposed to demolish the same. The officer will be personally held responsible. So far, we have demolished 225 illegal structures and filed FIRs against 861 persons. Considering the gravity of the situation and manpower we have, and the recent orders of the government in the wake of the Thane incident, we would be tackling multi-storey constructions and among them dangerous constructions first. Then we would target constructions on the river bed, nullah bed, reserved land, and those which have come up in a short period of time.

Manoj More: In view of the mess that prevails in Pimpri-Chinchwad, do you think PCMC as a civic body has failed to do its job effectively?

PCMC is not the only civic body facing unauthorised construction. This is being faced on a broader scale by other civic bodies as well. This is a feature of rapid urbanisation. India is rapidly urbanising, Maharashtra is rapidly urbanising. In Maharashtra, Pimpri-Chinchwad is the fastest developing city. When the city is growing rapidly, there are demands for housing. Once there is demand, there is an illegal market also. Unfortunately it has developed over a period of time, not within a week or a year, but over one or two decades.

Manoj More: Would you like to state whether PCMC officials have over the years turned a blind eye to structures coming up without PCMC permission?

Illegal constructions have come up in one-two decades, not only in PCMC but areas where urbanisation is high. Nobody denies civic officials turned a blind eye, otherwise 1.2 lakh unauthorised constructions would not have come up. There has been some neglect from officers. I won't deny that.

Anuradha Mascarenhas: Has the Thane incident come as a wake-up call?

The PCMC has been taking a stern stand since last June and we have not waited for any incident to happen. When we came to know unauthorised constructions are there, we started demolitions. And we made it a point to start it with big buildings of big developers. Our strategy is not to harass the common man. In August we submitted a proposal to the civic general body to stop amenities to all illegal constructions. When the proposal was not passed, I invoked special powers vested with the municipal commissioner. I passed the order in April that no unauthorised construction that came up after April 1, 2012 will get amenities or drainage connection. The first point is to stop new constructions. That we are targeting. And we can say most unauthorised constructions that were on, have stopped. And with the latest decision to stop civic amenities, no more will come up.

Ajay Khape: What is a permanent solution to this?

There are two solutions, one is to stop unauthorised constructions and make people aware of dangers of occupying these constructions. The second is to create a pool of affordable housing. Government agencies working in this area can provide a solution to this. We need effective planning for future that will ensure a well-developed city.

Ajay Khape: Since there is a nexus between administration and political elements, how can civic bodies put a halt to them and stop illegal structures?

It was the amendment in March 2012 that decided for the first time to appoint a designated officer. On June 16, 2012 we made the appointment. We have 64 electoral wards, and in each, there is a designated officer. When one construction collapsed on March 25 this year, we suspended a junior engineer and stopped increments of the deputy engineer. So, wherever we find a lapse by the designated officer, we take action. In December, we suspended three officers who showed properties as having come up prior to March 31 though they had come up after April 1. A newcomer to PCMC must know which are unauthorised constructions. We have put a list of all constructions since 1982, which are authorised . If you want to buy property or rent one, you can refer to this list.

Sunanda Mehta: Since you started the drive against illegal structures, you have been receiving threats to your life. Do they worry you and your family?

I received seven so far, the first was in August last year and the latest on April 6 this year. They were all in the form of letters. I have handed them over to deputy commissioner of police and my seniors in the government. There are threats like 'if you demolish this building, we will shoot you...' '...we have given contract to X person to shoot you', etc, etc. These are on record. The government has provided police protection to me... My family has been given police protection.

Sunanda Mehta: Have these threats restricted your movements?

As it is, we are not very outgoing family. So from office, I go home.

Anuradha Mascarenhas: How are you going to strengthen integrated disease surveillance system?

At PCMC, our thrust is to strengthen the three-tier structure. The majority of patients having minor ailments directly come to YCM hospital. We have dispensaries and hospitals also that need strengthening besides YCM hospital. At tertiary level, we are planning to start postgraduate medical college and super-specialty disciplines.

Prasad Joshi: You are a qualified MBBS doctor. What motivated you to joint civil services?

I completed MBBS from BJ Medical College in 1995 and MD in 1999. In third year of MBSS and the final year, where there are more clinical subjects like surgery, I came to know I am not comfortable handling individual patients. When I saw a diarrhoea patient, I would think why was he not getting good drinking water? He was not, because administration was not able to deliver. Or he is living where solid waste is not cleared every day. This made me think on a broader canvas. That is why, during my post-graduation I opted for PSM (preventive and social medicine).

Prasad Joshi: Being a medico, what measures do you think the government should take to tackle female foeticide?

I had observed female foeticide closely when I was posted at Nanded as collector. We observed doctors who indulged in such practice. You need to have a multi-prong approach to tackle it. One is to use legal provisions in a stringent manner to punish culprits. Second is to create awareness.

Prasad Joshi: Your drive to verify bogus enrolment in schools in Nanded was replicated at the state level. Do you think the matter has reached a logical end?

The state government came out with a GR in May 2012, detailing action against guilty schools. The matter was taken to court by school managements. They have the liberty to do so. The action is being taken. It is a slow process, since it is against an organised structure. So there will be some reactions, counter reactions.

Ardhra Nair: University of Pune was supposed to have a centre in PCMC area. What is the status of the land to be allotted?

We have reserved land for University of Pune in our DP. Their understanding was we would hand over the land free. But it is private land... compensation as per market rate has to be paid. University authorities say they are an educational body and PCMC should hand over free land. In Ahmednagar, the land was government owned. In our case, it is not. If the University is unable to pay compensation, it should tell us so that we can de-reserve the land.

Ajay Khape: Has the dispute between PCMC and PMC over the Metro rail project ended?

It has been resolved. The state government decided it will be on pro-rata basis. Whatever the cost of execution in PCMC, we will pay 10 per cent of that.

Ajay Khape: Was there some issue regarding naming of this project?

Pune Pimpri-Chinchwd Metro Rail Project was earlier proposed. It was found to be too long. As a precedent was set by merging PMT and PCMT to form Pune Mahangar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited, it will be followed for Metro. The project will be Pune Mahanagar Metro.

Manoj More: There were allegations that PCMC is run by contractors and influential elements. Your take on this...

Broadly speaking, PCMC is one of the richest municipal corporations in the country. There are lobbies of contractors and suppliers. One good thing is PCMC has resorted to e-tendering. Continuous lobbying by contractors and suppliers had created vested interest and we wanted to break that. We want to buy at prevailing market rates of the prescribed quality. Since PCMC is cash surplus, the vested interest is more. Whatever surplus we will have, we will invest in new projects.

Manoj More: Your stern approach seems to have "terrorised" PCMC officials...

If you want to enforce law, you have to be neutral. Even if it is your close friend or acquaintance, you have to take action. Otherwise, the message does not to go down. You have to be firm at times, it may appear rude or arrogant. Unless this is done, the system will not be reformed... The Government of Maharashtra is considering a cadre of municipal corporations officials who are transferable. If that happens, neutrality will come.

Manoj More: You have a running feud with corporators and local MLAs. Is it still on?

This is not a feature peculiar to PCMC. It is by and large the same everywhere. That is why the state government in August 2011 amended the BPMC Act, giving special powers to the municipal commissioner if the general body and standing committee do not approve certain proposals within certain time-limit. In August last year, 500 files were pending with the standing committee for approval. We analysed and found that proposals were pending since April 2012. We gave about a month, somehow the majority of files is still not cleared. I finally invoked special powers vested with the municipal commissioner.

Prasad Joshi: There are examples of IAS officers who being upright could not adjust with the system. You are an exceptional case. How do you deal with the system? Do you feel frustrated with the system?

I am never frustrated despite getting seven life threats. I find much more scope and opportunity to deliver and execute. These are challenges and that is why I entered civil services. It was a conscious decision. I was getting paid more when I was a medico than what I am getting today. It was a conscious decision to work on a broader canvas and under dynamic situations and I am happy about it.

Sunanda Mehta: Do you think young honest bureaucrats, who do not get bogged down by pressure, will change the way the system works?

Bureaucrats alone can't change the system. We need a good number of politicians, and media people. It will be a collective strength of everybody that will change the system.

Sunanda Mehta: Do you see change coming?

I am definitely positive. People see inquiries and investigations into corruption and other irregularities in bad light, but I think it is curing the system. The Thane incident was a symptom, we now have an opportunity to treat the disease. If all stakeholders decide and work collectively, change will definitely come.

Chinmay Brahme: PCMC has developed a lot of sports infrastructure, but their upkeep is an issue. What is your take?

The maintenance of sports facilities is not proper. We have decided to have a sport policy. It will be participatory policy involving eminent sportspersons among other stakeholders.

Prasad Joshi: Will octroi abolition and introduction of LBT have any adverse impact on PCMC budget?

We have a different revenue pattern in PCMC, with major revenue coming from industries and not traders. The ratio is roughly 70:30. So there will not be a big impact.

Manoj More: How do you look at local MLAs staging a protest against you outside the Legislature?

There is nothing personal. Their complaint was issue based. At a personal level I do not have any conflict with them.

Sunanda Mehta: Do you think Pimpri-Chinchwad will remain under the shadow of Pune?

I think in the last five years, PCMC is getting noticed at the state and national levels. Thanks to projects the civic body has undertaken in the recent past. As it goes nationally or internationally, Pune is big name itself, but PCMC is now coming up.