A special meeting on 24x7 and functioning of Orange City Water (OCW) would be held within a fortnight as the issue of drinking water took centrestage at the first regular general body (GB) meeting of the new House of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday. Excesses and inaction on the part of the civic administration dominated the proceedings of the general body meeting of the NMC held at Suresh Bhat auditorium. An infuriated Mayor Neeta Thakre took to task the officials, particularly those of Water Works Department (WWD) for their failure to take corrective action on her earlier instructions.

 

Later, talking to newspersons post meeting, Mayor explained that a 15-day ultimatum is given to OCW and to administration to rectify the situation or face music. The administration is instructed to ensure that the inflated bills issued to citizens on part of OCW are corrected forthwith. The bills, if paid by consumers, are to be adjusted against future consumption. Also, as corporators questioned the non-completion of famed 24x7 project despite an extension of five years after initial five years’ period, the Mayor said, a two months last chance would be given to OCW to set its house in order. Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) member Abha Pande initiated the debate as she asked the action taken by administration post complaint about inflated bills issued by OCW to consumers. Moreshwar Sable of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) highlighted high-handedness on part of OCW which disconnected water connections to quarters of safaiwalas.

 

Leader of Opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar sought to know the preparedness on part of OCW to tackle shortage due to prediction of harsh summer. The matter, however, got entangled into a ‘free for all’ debate as every other Member in the House tried to put forth their views and Pande showcased the samples of polluted water being supplied to citizens in her Prabhag. Other members also joined the chorus and even Ruling Party members sought to put OCW in dock as ground situation is putting them on path of aggression as even senior party leadership is now ready to ditch the ‘boat’ to soothe the growing anger over failure to deliver the mandate of 24x7.

 

Aslam Khan Pathan of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) participating on the spur in the debate reminded the Mayor that in 2012 when he was on the Standing Committee they were told that OCW would charge only Rs 90 for supply of drinking water. Reminding the ruling party of the promise made to citizens, Khan sought to confront them about the current impasse over highly inflated bills. No doubt some senior members, especially of BJP sought to ally the frayed tempers, as Ruling Party Leader Narendra Borkar raised the issue of frequent tripping at Navegaon Khairy power station as a cause of shortage of drinking water in some parts of city. However, Congress’ young corporator Abhijeet Jha was particularly aggressive and put the administration in the dock over persistent ignoring of his complaints about severe shortage of drinking water in Gittikhadan and other adjoining areas. Dinesh Yadav of Congress also pointed out that even now tankers are deployed in North Nagpur in Samata Nagar as OCW has failed to lay pipelines despite tall claims about 24x7. Pintu Zalke of BJP tried to wade through the muddy waters but could not steer the course of discussion which veered around in the choppy waters.

 

 

Putting the record straight, Mayor Neeta Thakre instructed Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar to seek explanation from officials of Water Works Department as to why her instructions were not adhered to by the administration on drinking water issue. A fortnight ago, Mayor held a review meeting on issue of inflated bills issued by OCW and ordered that the same be corrected and provide relief to citizens. Also, she had ordered corrective steps to address complaints of supply of contaminated drinking water as administration said, nearly 50 areas were receiving polluted water. Thakre in reply to a query to newspersons post meeting said, the directions issued earlier in general body meeting were crystal clear. She said, it is clear as to who is in the line of fire, the Superintending Engineer, Public Health Department (PHE), Shweta Banerjee. Mayor said she is clear as to her instructions and said officers on deputation should be repatriated to their parent cadre if they cannot deliver the results. Earlier her ruling on the same matter drew wide applause from the Opposition as well as Treasury benches, as the approach of Banerjee is seen as major irritant in acting against OCW. In the House, Banerjee’s reply that about 25 per cent payment to OCW has been withheld failed to cut ice as Abha Pande and others said, the administration has done no favour by withholding as the same is going to be released tomorrow anyhow. She also said, OCW has been paid Rs 125 and Rs 126 crore respectively over last two financial years.

 

 

Bhandewadi dump yard issue: Mayor to hold meet of corporators of affect area To break the impasse over procedure that held up the question about Bhandewadi Dumping Yard, Mayor Neeta Thakre directed to hold a meeting in her chamber to sort the issue. Pradip Pohane of BJP raised the point of propriety insisting that as per rules on an officer of Deputy Municipal Commissioner rank is empowered to reply in the House. The administration had nominated Superintending Engineer Shweta Banerjee to reply but Pohane asked, Is she Deputy Municipal Commissioner? Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar who was in the House looked confused even as seasoned senior members of the administration can nominate any officer to reply. But Pohane refused to budge leaving administration in a quandary as no Deputy Municipal Commissioner is entrusted the subject of Bhandewadi as Public Health Engineering is looking after processing aspect. Seeing no way out, Mayor said, a meeting of all corporators affected by the foul stench emanating from the Bhandewadi would be convened.