The Times of India  18.08.2010

NAGPUR: After spending nearly Rs 10 lakh each of our money, mayor Archana Dehankar and deputy mayor Shekhar Sawarbandhe returned from their jaunt to China and Australia a couple of days back.

The trip was ostensibly to study poverty alleviation and good governance. But when TOI asked them what Nagpurians could expect from the trip, they said, “Immediately it is not possible to implement all we have learnt and seen. However, we will soon prepare a report and put it up before the civic house.”

Dehankar and Sawarbandhe, representatives of the ruling Nagpur Vikas Aghadi (NVA), attended an international workshop organised by Aus-HS (Australian Habitat Studies) on capacity building, planning and leadership in New Delhi between July 30 and August 3.

They then left for China (Beijing) to attend a workshop on poverty alleviation and good governance between Aug 5 and 8, and public sector management reforms and Australian policies between Aug 9 and 12 at Sydney.

While appreciating the working styles of Beijing and Sydney, Dehankar and Sawarbandhe said that roads were cleaned everyday, maintained and repaired immediately, nullahs were cleaned round the year, manholes are covered and if broken replaced immediately, workers lift garbage door-to-door everyday and nothing is dumped on roads or squares.

“It was a great experience for both of us,” said Dehankar. “We learnt a lot in both the cities but it’s not possible to implement everything here. We will try to bring few of the services in phases in the coming years,” added Sawarbandhe.

Both accepted that there is a huge political, social and economical difference between these cities and Nagpur. Still, a few things could be implemented in the city and for that they will put up all issues before the NMC. “It will be debated upon,” said the mayor.

Vikas Thakre, the leader of opposition in NMC, said when almost Rs 10 lakh of tax payer’s money is spent, “some immediate reforms for citizens should be seen”. “They always plead lack of funds for virtually everything. At such times it should not spend citizens’ money on foreign tours. They could have used the money to purchase vaccines for all NMC hospitals and planted at least 2,000 ten-feet high trees in the city,” he added.

Interestingly, the departure of the mayor and deputy mayor for the foreign trip had left the NMC headless. As per the City of Nagpur Corporation Act 1948, the deputy mayor takes charge in the absence of the mayor. However, there is no provision to give charge to a third person in the absence of both office bearers.