General body meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) witnessed unprecedented uproar on the question tabled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about increasing the number of administrative zones. The issue sparked charges from Congress plus AIMIM-IUML benches accusing BJP of trying to grab control of all zones in name of reorganisation citing administrative necessity. Treasury and Opposition benches traded barbs even as Leader of Opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar marshalled all non-BJP corporators and assembled in the well of the House. The general body meeting was conducted at Niyojan Bhavan, as Suresh Bhat auditorium was not available. Senior BJP corporator Bandu Raut put a question, seeking to know from administration current population of the city and when the zones were last reorganised.

 

Deputy Commissioner Nirbhay Jain tried to deflect the query stating that in 2012 during the general elections to civic body, about 12 Zonal Returning Officers though zones were only 10. The arrangement was only meant for ensuring proper holding of polls and nothing more. The trouble arose when BJP tried to pass the issues on basis on its majority that was objected by Leader of Opposition. Raut earlier sought to know from administration the population when zone numbers were increased to 10 in 2002. He then urged Mayor Neeta Thakre to direct administration to provide detailed reply in next meeting. Meanwhile, Aslam Khan, Group Leader, IUML-AIMIM, intervening in the debate said Ashi Nagar Zone is functioning with lone Junior Engineer.

 

The current administrative set-up at NMC has vacancies and he questioned the need for additional Zones. Mahakalkar opposed the move by BJP to steamroll the proposal. He said the NMC is functioning with bare minimum staff and it is affecting the delivery of services. First there is need to increase the number of Junior Engineers, they are first step in initiating proposal for any development work in NMC. The Ruling Party move to increase Zone number is only going to stretch the already thin bureaucratic set-up.

 

The move as per political observer is seen as move by BJP to nip in bud any chance of AIMIM-IUML securing Zonal Chairperson post, especially in Ashi Nagar Zone where they are tied with Congress, its member currently is in chair. Seeing commotion Mayor adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes but it did not restore order. The entire non BJP bloc continued sloganeering in the House, shouting Jai Samvidhan slogans. Ultimately, senior corporator and NCP (Ajit Pawar) member Abha Pande suggested that administration while tabling the question in next meeting, should also suggest how they try to tide over shortage of manpower.