Nagpur: The new Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur Ashwin Mudgal on Wednesday formally took charge from Shravan Hardikar. Hardikar who has been transferred to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on the same post will assume the charge on Thursday. After taking charge, Mudgal held a marathon meeting with Hardikar and probably discussed the NMC affairs.
Talking to media persons, the new Municipal Commissioner said that Nagpur is heart of the country. The city has distinct cultural, social, political, economical and administrative significance. “It is a lifetime opportunity as well as challenge for me to work in the city. I have taken this responsibility seriously and my efforts would be aimed at doing justice to the post,” Mudgal stated.
“It is for the first time I am working in a Municipal Corporation. Till now I was dealing Zilla Parishads and Collectorate. Incidentally, I am taking charge from Hardikar second time. Earlier, I had taken charge from as Yavatmal Collector. Hardikar is one of the outstanding officers in the State,” Mudgal said.
Underlining his priorities, Mudgal said it will be his endeavour to complete the projects being undertaken by NMC. The burning problems being confronted by citizens would be sorted out with the cooperation and coordination of officials and office-bearers.
Replying to a Nagpur Today query on cash-starved civic body and how he would deal with the crisis, Mudgal said that his priority would be to boost NMC’s own revenue sources. “I will go through grants, loans and other financial matters in the coming days and come out with a decisive plan to overcome the financial crisis. No projects would be affected for want of money. Efforts will also be made to make salaries of employees between first and fifth of every month regularly,” the new Commissioner asserted.
To another question, Mudgal said that according to information given to him by NMC administration 34 percent important and technical posts are lying vacant in the civic body. The posts would be filled up without delay. Even the courts and the Governor have issued orders in this regard. NMC has received the orders. Establishment of many departments is ready and the recruitment will be done accordingly, he said.
The new top boss of NMC, soon after taking charge, held a meeting with all Heads of Departments and discussed important issues with them.
Challenging task ahead for Hardikar:
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is currently passing through a very bad phase. The first priority for Hardikar would be to put the house in order. And it is a herculean task, to say the least. Recently, PCMC was in the dock as a Steno to Commissioner was trapped by Anti-Corruption Bureau for Rs 12 lakh bribe. The system in the civic body has collapsed. Moreover, the contractor running the NMC’s 24X7 water supply scheme has been given responsibility to manage Pune also. Considering the precarious situation, it will be a tightrope walk for Shravan Hardikar as Municipal Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. That is for sure.
