dna impact: Cidco starts clean-up, deemed conveyance process simplified

Rattled by the series of reports in dna on red tape and graft in the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), the body's managing director, Sanjay Bhatia, has launched a crackdown on corruption in the estate department that handles cases pertaining to deemed conveyance.

Bhatia, an IAS officer, has suspended two unscrupulous staffers from the estate department and initiated criminal proceedings against them. He has also issued a stern warning, asking others to fall in line, failing which they will also meet a similar fate.

"We have taken note of the series of reports in dna of Navi Mumbai about the estate department and have taken corrective measures," said Bhatia.

In his bid to weed out malpractice in the department, Bhatia has ordered opening of a Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) from August 19, where applicants can pay the requisite fee and collect their documents at the given time.

The CFC will leave no scope for any direct interaction between the public and Cidco officials. "Now, the residents won't have to go from table to table to get their work done. They just have to submit their file at the CFC counter," said Mohan Ninawe, public relations officer of the government body.

Dna has been been running a campaign on deemed conveyance and corruption in Cidco. It has written extensively on how files of certain lawyers were cleared on priority, while other residents and widows were made to run from pillar to post to get their work done.

Dna also exposed how applicants were being forced to pay speed money. Scores of readers, who had faced similar experiences in the past, have responded to dna's reports.