NMC meet turns stormy; BJP confronts Mpl Commr over stoppage of devpt works
   Date :21-Feb-2020

NMC _1  H x W:
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Showing rule book, Mayor de-freezes Tukaram Mundhe’s order 
 
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and new Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had a face off again as both tried to dominate the proceedings during the general body meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Thursday. BJP block used the rule book to hilt to confront Municipal Commissioner and had their say to suppress fiat about stoppage of development works in city. Mayor Sandip Joshi directed administration to take the projects whose work orders were issued to their logical conclusion. Similarly, Municipal Commissioner was given one month time to submit financial position of NMC during last 12-years as demanded by BJP block. Mundhe's intimidating style of working ruffled the feathers of ruling block at Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
 
Not to miss the opportunity, senior BJP corporators Dayashankar Tiwari and Pravin Datke pushed civic administration even as they showered praise on Mundhe. The two corporators had the administration in bind as they made the officials read out provisions to point out that elected representatives are final authority on sanctioning high value development works. For administration at moments it become difficult to defend high handed position of Municipal Commissioner on matters listed on the agenda and on matters they sought to refer back to administration.
 
The senior corporators were quick to point out rule and claim if administration is insisting on playing by rule book then they have to applied on all fronts. Tiwari in particular was more aggressive after Municipal Commissioner presented financial statement wherein he highlighted poor receipts and huge payment liability. He said they had asked for financial record of past 12-years and to know how many times did NMC default or had to curtail expenditure by withholding sanctioned development works. Repeatedly using the parliamentary tools to perfect, Tiwari had the administration in total bind.
 
Thereafter, Datke was at his best and boxed the civic officials in a corner promoting Mundhe to frequently take the centre stage and clarify the position. The issue was waiting to boil over as ruling BJP was miffed after Municipal Commissioner froze development projects that were not initiated even after issuance of work orders by the administration. Mundhe's stance was that as NMC finances are in doldrums it does not make any sense to create additional liability. Commissioner further said as per his expectations the revenue by end of financial year would be in range of Rs. 2434 crore.
 
However already committed liability is quite huge and there is mismatch in spending and receipts. Civic administration however was at receiving end and meekly agreed with contention of BJP seniors that as per rule book it is the Standing Committee and House that has powers to approve tenders above Rs. 25 lakh. However, Mundhe was not the one to given in and said though as per rules high value works are prerogative of elected representatives, there is no mention in MMC Act about releasing money. So in a way new Municipal Commissioner indicated he would continue to have his way and bring financial order to civic body and bolster its finances by trimming unwanted expenditure.
 
During the see-saw battle in day long general body meeting, senior Tiwari and Datke time and again invoked provisions of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act to drive home their point that House is supreme in all matters. Further Municipal Commissioner was directed to submit accounts of last 12-years as BJP wanted to know as to how many times civic body finances were in doldrums and whether that time development works were halted in city. The meeting was going to be stormy was quite clear as unease among BJP was waiting to erupt as twice their attempt to gain upper hand in civic dispensation came to naught. 
 

Mundhe no to OTS to prope
 
Mundhe ‘no’ to OTS to property tax defaulters
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe ruled out One Time Settlement (OTS) to defaulters of property tax. Sticking to his stand, he said since Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act has left it to discretion of Commissioner, there is no point in granting any concession. Commissioner intervened during the debate when Pravin Datke, senior corporator of BJP, referred to past when then Municipal Commissioner had rephrased the demand after errors were pointed out by elected representatives. Mundhe said in past the experience of OTS are not very satisfactory and already finances of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are in doldrums. Datke had raised the issue in general body meeting regarding errors in water bills and property tax demand.
 
While Shweta Banerjee, Executive Engineer, Water Works, said department has issued bills only after cross verification. But when Datke wanted to know whether revision process is still on, she initially fumbled but later said same could be done. Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition, alleged that inflated bills were issued to slum dwellers in Nandanvan slum though their water meters are not in operations since last few months. The slum-dwellers are issued bills of Rs one to two lakh and sought to know the reason for such huge bills. Joining the issue Mohd. Jamal of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) claimed that Water Works Department of NMC has not supplied water to Nai Basti locality since last four days in a bid to force citizens to opt for water meters.
 
On property tax, the issue again flared-up leading to signs of emerging confrontation between ruling party and Municipal Commissioner. BJP is seeking concession to encourage defaulters to pay-up. In fact Mahendra Dhanvijay, Chairperson, Tax Committee, demanded OTS to drive up recovery. Dhanvijay sought to know from administration the reason for dip in receipts from property tax. Dhanvijay detailing his experience said that recovery of dues used to 75 per cent a dew years back and now has hit all time low of 18 per cent.
 
What are the reasons for this downfall in recovery and claimed that penal provision plus charging of interest that too compound on default is keeping away the citizens. Mundhe however said as per provisions of MMC Act, civic body can recover dues of past six years only. “I have already made-up my mind and ruled out any compromise on the same”, he opined. Penalty is imposed owing to default on part of the property owner so the question of its waiver does not arise. The provision is meant to ensure that citizens should pay their taxes regularly. Praful Gudadhe, senior Congress corporator, faulted the Tax Department for its faulty approach.
 
There is no proper survey of properties and cited his own example saying biggest default of property tax is in his name. The reason is faulty approach on part of NMC's property tax officials who calculated rental value as per Ready Reckoner rates and not at actual. He further claimed that while RR rates in Ramdaspeth is quite low whereas market prices is quite high, at Sitabuldi it is vice versa and this errors resulted in increased default. So while those who can pay escape with lesser tax, the others who are regular payers of property tax are forced to default. However still trying to find a middle way, Mayor Sandip Joshi called for a meeting with Municipal Commissioner and senior corporators, group leaders of House. Agreeing with contention of Municipal Commissioner about discretion on not granting concession, Mayor however said a meeting will be held at end of month to find a way out.
 
Officiating CAFO repatriated after BJP cites law to civic admn
 
Staff Reporter :
 
In a major set back for civic administration, services of Chief Accounts and Finance Officer (CA&FO) Mona Thakur were discontinued as her second tenure with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) violated norms of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. The matter was raised by Adv. Dharampal Meshram who referred to sec. 47 (2) provision in the MMC Act wherein if a tenure of officer is completed, can he/she be posted back at same municipal corporation. From administration, In-charge Deputy Commissioner (GAD) Rajesh Mohite read out the concerned provision as pointed out by corporator and agreed in affirmative.
 
This was second tenure for Mona Thakur as CAFO at NMC and during her previous tenure she was on collision course with elected representatives. Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe however tried to convince the city fathers the need for a full time CAFO. First he said only additional charge is entrusted to Mona Thakur and hence the matter be laid to rest. However, senior BJP corporators took control and said since administration is of view that everything in NMC would be done by rule book then MMC Act provision is crystal clear. Mundhe again tried to stall the issue saying that Thakur was posted to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) by State Government.
 
The posting was done as regular CAFO has gone on leave. He was trying to drive home point that NMC House cannot question the decision of State Government. But BJP block was unmoved and Avinash Thakre said State Government itself frames the rules of Governance. Now how can it violate the provision of law?
 
The provision of Act must be applied in toto, as rule of law must prevail. Intervening in the debate, Praful Gudadhe, senior Congress corporator, said the issue is clear as MMC Act leave no room for any doubt. However, the House has to adopt a resolution about reliving CAFO and repatriate her. Mayor Sandip Joshi thereafter gave the ruling that the NMC's general body meeting requests State Government to relieve Officiating CAFO Mona Thakur and directed that she be repatriated to her parent cadre.