Mehta has warned that if the officers fail to take timely action against such illegalities, responsibility would be fixed and action would be taken against them.
Cracking the whip on unauthorized construction and encroachments, BMC Chief Ajoy Mehta has decided to hold local assistant municipal commissioners responsible for the illegal activities.
Mehta has warned that if the officers fail to take timely action against such illegalities, responsibility would be fixed and action would be taken against them.
Mehta gave the instructions to ward level assistant municipal commissioners and zonal deputy municipal commissioners at a meeting on Saturday. He also asked the officers to treat the civic budget announced on Wednesday like a 'manifesto' and ensure its time bound implementation. Mehta has asked all officials to fast track projects that have been mentioned in the budget ensure complete fund utilization.
"Action against illegal construction is taken by the designated officer (DO) and assistant engineers. However the municipal commissioner has now asked us to take stock. He said that if the BMC fails to take action on specific complaints, then we would be held responsible. The onus is on ward officers now," said an assistant municipal commissioner who was part of Saturday's meeting.
After taking over in April last year, Mehta had issued several circulars and orders to clean up the city. However, citizen groups and activists have pointed out that implementation of most circulars fizzed out in a few days. After a massive fire killed eight people at Kurla's Hotel City Kinara, the BMC had initiated a crackdown against Grade 2 and 3 hotels across the city.
While the BMC took action against dozens of eateries, the action stopped in a few days. Similarly, Mehta had also directed the BMC to clear the 24 most congested and hawker filled footpaths in the city and make it walkable for pedestrians.
"This is a welcome move but all depends on how seriously the staff takes the BMC chief. Many such circulars have been issued from time to time but there is little action on the ground. Unless stern action is taken against senior officers nothing will change," said Makarand Narvekar, citizen corporator from Colaba.
Known in bureaucratic circles as a 'no nonsense' man, Mehta told the meeting that he would take regular review of officer's performance on illegal construction.
A senior civic official pointed out that the move to fix the responsibility of illegal and unauthorized constructions on assistant commissioners and senior inspectors was mooted way back in 1995 by then chief minister Manohar Joshi. However, neither an assistant commissioner nor any other senior official has been penalized since.
While Mehta has been successful in taking on civic contractors and cleaning up the BMC's rigged tendering system, whether he can set the BMC house in order or no remains to be seen.
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