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.