Nagpur: Here, you can expect the unexpected. The affairs being run in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) could aptly be termed ‘unparalleled.’ A rare but interesting development is being sensed in NMC. The only Poclain Machine in the possession of the local body is emerging as the “Most Wanted.” And the ‘Most Wanted’ Poclain Machine has triggered a tug-of-war between the bigwigs and the machine is being sought for their respective works. The seekers include Mayor, Standing Committee Chairman, other office-bearers, MLAs, Corporators, Ward Officers and others. All want the Poclain Machine in their service for the works in their respective areas. Since the machine is under the Health Department the head is terrible dilemma: Who should be given priority?
The Health Department of NMC is pressing the only Poclain Machine for cleaning small-big nallahs and drainage lines and sometimes even for cleaning city’s rivers. The population of Nagpur stands around 25 lakh which is spread over in 72 divisions. Every division is comprised of 20,000-25,000 population. An every division has been dotted with small-big nallahs-naliyas needing cleaning work. The cleaning can only be done by Poclain Machine.
According to sources, at present the “Most Wanted” Poclain Machine is being ‘trapped’ by Chairman of Standing Committee Ramesh Shingare and South Nagpur MLA Sudhakar Kohale for different works in their respective influential areas. And whenever the Health Department employees try to ‘release’ the ‘trapped’ machine they have to face the anger of these two leaders and return empty handed, revealed the sources.
Meanwhile, the mayor was handed over a memorandum for cleaning work in Division No. 1. The Mayor, on the other hand, forwarded the memorandum to Ashi Nagar Ward Officer Harish Raut for necessary action. The Ward Officer on his part forwarded the memorandum to NMC Health Department through the Zonal Health Department requesting Poclain Machine for carrying out the said work. However, the “helpless” Health Department conveniently spurned the request on one pretext or the other. Irked by the refusal, the Ward Officer notified the Mayor’s Office about the Health Department’s snub.
The Deputy Director (Health) is reportedly said that the Poclain Machine is presently in the service of Shingare and Kohale and whenever the machine is released it will be allocated on priority basis.
Now, the question arises: Is Mayor far below the class of Shingare and Kohale in priority? Moreover, reports are pouring in over health hazards the filthy water and garbage posing to children in Division No. 1. Apart from health hazards the reports also said that many children had got trapped in these open nallahs-drainages. Is the problem deserves no priority?
Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha(rajeev.nagpurtoday@
