Mundhe removes retired NMC officer Siddiqui as Director on NESL Board

Staff Reporter :

Ongoing tussle between Municipal Commissioner and ruling party at NMC seems to have played a role in sacking of Siddiqui

Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe fired yet another salvo at local powers that be in NMC, as he removed Rizwan Siddiqui from the post of Director, Nagpur Environmental Services Limited (NESL). Citing establishment of new Environment Department in civic body, Mundhe on Wednesday issued order sacking Siddiqui. In the order, Mundhe also pointed out that till date Maharashtra Government had not confirmed the appointment of Sididqui as Director, NESL, further his services were not longer required.

Siddiqui was an old hand of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and had risen through ranks and retired as Additional Municipal Commissioner in March 2018. Siddiqui was entrusted additional charge as Director, NESL, through a resolution by general body of NMC on February 20, 2018, just days prior to his superannuation, as ruling party wanted to nominate one serving/retired Addl. Commissioner rank officer of civic body to the NESL Board to help in Environment management. Post retirement Siddiqui continued as Director on NESL as per nod from the State Government.

Today in the order, Municipal Commissioner cited that working pattern of civic body was reorganised in February 6, 2020, and a several new departments were establishment, Environment Department was one among them. The Department is now headed by senior officer and hence services of Siddiqui was thus not required anymore. Further, Mundhe said as per procedure a note was sent to Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, for confirming the appointment of Siddiqui as Director. The note was sent by NMC on May 2, 2018, but till date State Government did not conveyed its confirmation to Siddiqui's appointment.

Therefore invoking the powers, Mundhe also directed withdrawing allocation of chamber made to Siddiqui in NMC New Administrative Building at Civil Lines and also the other facilities provided to the retired officer like official vehicle etc. Sacking of Siddiqui is seen as a fallout of ongoing tussle between Municipal Commissioner and ruling party at NMC. Yesterday only a war of words had broken out after Mayor Sandip Joshi blamed inept handling of civic affairs for rise in cases of COVID-19 in city. Joshi also said that administration failure to take everyone into confidence is to be blamed for sorry state of affairs at MLA Hostel, the quarantine centre in city, as norms of social distancing are not being followed there and same is reason for rising positive coronavirus cases.

However, Municipal Commissioner had accused Mayor of unnecessarily engaging in politics in times of pandemic and denied any mishandling on his part of that of NMC. He said all the required measures are in place and said citizens needs to strictly follow the guidelines issued by State Government and take all precautions to defeat coronavirus and prevent its community transmission. Before that also ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had cornered civic administration on issue of supply of contaminated drinking water in slums of city. Civic body watchers say the sacking of Siddiqui is fallout of the battle for supremacy in the NMC and in days to come it is set to intensify further.