Nagpur: Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, who has been transferred to Pimpri-Chinchwad on the same post, is leaving the city with a bag of mixed feelings over his tenure in the city. His tenure is marked by astounding successes and disappointments as well.
Talking to media persons, Hardikar rued that his dream of turning Nag River totally clean and beautiful has remained unfulfilled. “Similarly, the ambitious 24X7 water supply scheme could not be completed in total during my tenure as Municipal Commissioner of NMC. However, now my efforts will be aimed at making Pimpri-Chinchwad a 24X7 water supply city although it is an uphill task,” Hardikar said.
Hardikar is likely to handover the charge to new Municipal Commissioner Ashwin Mudgal on April 26 and assume the charge as Municipal Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad on April 27.
The outgoing top NMC boss, who had taken over as Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur in January 2015, further said, “I am happy that I could help in completion of various projects, and could conceptualise many new projects. Working in a good city like Nagpur was a very enriching experience. I am proud to have contributed to its development,” he said.
“The central city of Nagpur has all the potential to become a commercial centre. The city is capable of achieving this feat. The Orange City, in a way, has already become a medical and educational hub. However, the city lacks quality of employment, entertainment of public place and sewerage. Nagpur’s 24X7 water supply scheme would be achieved in Pune. The tenure in Nagpur was satisfying. City’s OCW has been awarded the contract to undertake the project in Pune also,” Hardikar stated.
“The Nagpur Municipal Corporation, to a great extent, has succeeded in sorting out public transport and garbage problems. The city is marching towards Smart City status. The Smart City project will ensure basic and other facilities in outer parts of the city as hundreds of people from other parts of the country are settling in Nagpur. The next 30 years will see increased urbanisation with all the facilities. The PPP projects were successfully completed despite cash crunch. However, O&M expense would see decline due to efficient management of sewerage and 24X7 water supply. The main income sources of NMC are Property Tax, Water and Market taxes. The measures taken to boost these sources would prove successful. NMC losses would turn gains as 75 percent of demand notices for Property Tax are being based on new rates and water billing is being done on 350 MLD. The TP scheme has got off to a start after nod from NIT,” concluded the outgoing Municipal Commissioner.
– RAJEEV RANJAN KUSHWAHA
