'Woh subah to aayegi', says Ahmedabad's newly-elected mayor Asit Vora

Wo subah kabhee to aayegee, the famous number from the Bollywood film, 'Phir Subah Hogi', was the song Asit Vora sang, at this scribe's request, in his music room the day he was elected the First Citizen of Ahmedabad. In an interview with DNA, Vora talked about his vision for the city as its mayor. Excerpts:

Your vision and mission as mayor of Ahmedabad?
We will focus on three things: raising the level of hygiene and sanitation in the city, adequate water supply and good drainage in all areas, and making Amdavad a slum-free city. We have already started door-to-dump system to make garbage collection more effective. It will help end piling up of garbage and improve the level of hygiene and sanitation in the city. As Ahmedabad is growing into a mega city, we want to make slum rehabilitation more effective.

There were some technical problems in the current slum rehabilitation scheme, which is why it has been sent back to the state government. But we are hopeful of resolving all issues faced in the implementation of the scheme. Moreover, wherever it is not possible to shift people, we will try to make their life better by providing water, drainage, stone-paving and streetlights.

As many as 117 BJP corporators have been elected for the first time. What is your advice to them?
The corporator must have a sound knowledge of the working of the corporation. We will provide training to all the first-time corporators in the basic work that must be done by them. They will be trained in how to conduct themselves with officials and how to plan their own budget, besides getting work done from general budget. Before he approaches any official to complain about a high tax bill or any other issue, the corporator must know how tax is calculated. He must also know whom to approach for a particular work.

What will be your strategy in running the house?
I will be neutral. I will try to deal with the opposition's complaints in my chamber rather than in the house. As zero hour is important for them to express their views, the opposition will be given an opportunity to present their views in the proper manner.

Some people feel that you do not mix freely with people. What do you say to that?
Everybody has his own style of working. Some people are not happy with me because I did not go out of the way to please certain people. I cannot favour 500 people at the cost of five lakh people.

You were the standing committee chairman in the previous AMC. Now that you are mayor, how will you deal with a possible clash with the new standing committee chairman?
The role of the political wing is in framing policies. Bhupendrabhai and I had a discussion about this even before I was elected mayor. I will take everyone into confidence in framing policies to resolve long-pending issues on many matters in the AMC. We will frame policies to promote public-private partnership. Yet we will ensure that it is not misused by people with vested interests.