Official goes on leave, puts monsoon work on hold

Taking note of the workload for pre-monsoon activities, the General Administration department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had passed a circular on May 12 stating that all the leaves of officials have been cancelled. The circular was signed by civic chief Ajoy Mehta. However, the head of the most crucial department, chief engineer for the Strom Water Drains (SWD) department, has gone on leave and will resume work on June 1, the SWD office informed.

Laxman Vhatkar, who is also the Director for Engineering, has gone on leave last week, which is sanctioned by Mehta himself. May 31 was the deadline for completing the pre-monsoon nullah desilting work. Vhatkar’s charge is handed over to the Deputy Chief Engineer of the Western suburbs. This double standard of the civic administration has been strongly criticised by not only civic activists but also BMC employees.

“My department is not directly related to nullah desilting, yet all my leaves have been cancelled. When BMC is under tremendous pressure to complete the pre-monsoon work, the head of the SWD goes on leave,” said a senior civic official.

It is not only officials, but Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar is also on a vacation to his hometown.

RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu said, “If directives are given by the commissioner, they should be followed. I cannot say on what grounds the officer has gone on leave.”