Govt nod to fill 1,085 posts in NMMC health centres Stayed resolutions in PMC passed: Sena

The state government on Friday gave the sanction for recruitment in the NMMC health department, a demand that had been pending for years.

A total of 1,085 posts will be filled up following the sanction giving a boost to the health infrastructure in the city.

The civic health services had in the past over one year deteriorated.

Despite three new hospitals at Airoli, Nerul and CBD Belapur being constructed, they are not yet fully functional. The Kopar Khairane and Turbhe mother and child hospitals have been shut as their dilapidated buildings were declared dangerous.

The residents are getting health services only from the NMMC FRU in Vashi and the urban health posts.

For the past almost 10 years, several posts from that of doctors to peons have been vacant. The civic administration had prepared a detailed proposal for recruitment of staff and sent to the state government for approval on July 17, 2015. It had written to the government that the 1,085 posts need to be filled at the earliest to provide efficient health services to the citizens.

Lack of adequate staff was hindering the start of the three new hospitals constructed at a cost of crores of rupees. Even the state of the art FACC ambulance has been lying unused for months.

MLA Manda Mhatre said, “The recruitment issue had been pending for 10 years. The administration had sent a detail request to the government for sanction. I met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and apprised him of the situation.”

She added, “The government has been quick in responding to the need of the people and sanctioned the posts. It will be a boon for the people of the city in terms of health services.”

Municipal commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said, “The government has sanctioned the posts that we had asked for. It will help us further increase the efficiency of our health services and provide even better services to the people.”

The Shiv Sena has alleged that the ruling party and some opposition members in Panvel Municipal Council have sanctioned some resolutions that had been stayed in the house.

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Gudekar has alleged that there were 78 resolutions in the house in the meeting held on December 17, 2015, of which seven had been stayed. He has alleged that they too have been sanctioned.

Gudekar, who is also the group leader in the house, has objected to the minutes of December 17, 2015. Decision was to be made at the time on a request by Limaye public library for a grant of Rs1 lakh. Gudekar said there is encroachment by the library which should first be removed and only then the grant given.

Another resolution that had been stayed was of providing an alternative road for Siddhivinayak Complex located next to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj ground. However, it was approved in the March 22 general body meeting, he said.

Gudekar said, “Discussion had been held on the Rs8,49,548 beautification project of Amardham crematorium and that issue too was kept pending. The expense of Rs7,74,185 for repair of bazaar wall had been opposed. But, the minutes show it to be approved.”

He added, “Objection was also raised over the inflated bills of urban underground gutters scheme. It has been alleged that the work was delayed due to the contractor’s and hence there was no case of paying extra. However, the minutes show that the proposal for an increase of Rs10 crore has been approved.”

Gudekar said, “In the meeting in March, I had demanded that the minutes of December 17, 2015, should be put to vote. At the time, the number of the opposition members was higher. This had led to tension within the ruling party. The ruling party had then taken up other issues.”

He demanded, “We want a detailed inquiry into the issue.”

Denying the allegations, PMC president Charusheela Gharat said, “The approvals have been given following proper procedures. The opposition is unnecessarily trying to create hurdles in development work in the city.”