Ravindra Kumbhare (File Pic)
Nagpur: In the backdrop on an “unsavoury” incident in which official vehicles of two office-bearers of Zilla Parishad were “seized” to be pressed in the service of poll-bound NMC, the Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare has reportedly put a brake on the seizure process, for the time being.
The NMC administration has requisitioned a fleet of official vehicles from other government departments to utilize them during elections of Nagpur Municipal Corporation. However, many departments displayed negative attitude forcing the NMC administration to launch “vehicle seizure” drive from Thursday. As a result, two of Zilla Parishad (ZP) office-bearers namely Asha Gaikwad, Chairperson of Agriculture Committee and Pushpa Waghade, Chairperson of Woman and Child Welfare Committee, were forced to get down from their official vehicles as the vehicles were being requisitioned for NMC elections. The unsavoury incident left the ZP office-bearers and Opposition members fuming.
However, the vehicles were “let off” on the condition that the vehicles would be “surrendered” to the NMC on Friday. But suddenly, the Additional Commissioner Kumbhare ordered halt to the ‘seizure drive.’
The NMC Administration is strictly following the code of conduct rules. The local body has deployed over 500 officials and employees to ensure the code of conduct is not violated by political parties and even babus. The civic body has felt need of at least 150 vehicles of various kinds including 50-60 cars and 75-80 Jeeps.
Accordingly, other departments of state government were requested to make available their vehicles in NMC service. However, surprisingly, most of the departments cold shouldered the request. Piqued by the negative attitude, the NMC launched a “seizure” drive from Thursday and subsequently, “grabbed” 12 vehicles belonging to various departments including office of Divisional Commissioner, PDW, Irrigation, Zilla Parishad etc.
Upset by the incident, Kadambari Bhagat-Balkawde, CEO of ZP, talked to Ravindra Kumbhare, Additional Municipal Commissioner, who assured that the vehicles would be returned to the office-bearers. Vehicle requisition is done by Assistant Commissioner of NMC, but he had addressed the letter in this regard directly to Chairperson of Woman and Child Welfare Committee of ZP instead of getting requisition process executed through ZP administration.
