New civic chief gets down to business, stresses on e-governance

CBD BELAPUR: The new municipal commissioner Tukaram Munde took charge on Monday, and did not waste time in making clear his objectives.

The former Solapur collector has a history of standing up to political intervention, corruption and indiscipline.

Instead of going to his office, Munde first went to the ground floor offices of accounts and property tax departments in the headquarters, where he asked for the details of the targets, the actual collection and arrears.

Munde questioned the huge arrears from the MIDC companies for years stating that the courts never stopped tax collection. When told that the industrialists’ associations were opposing the tax, Munde asked the officials if they work for the industrialists’ associations or the civic body.

He was upset at the heaps of files stacked in the office saying that the air-conditioned swanky headquarters had been turned into a dumping ground.

He asked the personnel in the accounts department, what work they did and rained a barrage of questions. He questioned why the October file had not been cleared till December and why it took so long. He took the law department officials to task looking at the pending cases.

Munde expressed displeasure at the fire extinguisher being kept in a corner on the headquarter premises.

He visited the anti-encroachment department before finally going to his office to take charge.

In a meeting of heads of departments, he took details from all officials, some of whom made trips to their departments to get information sought by him. This included details of the air-conditioning of the massive headquarters.

Munde said, “There is no question of any political pres- sure. All work will be done within the ambit of the law. No illegal action will be tolerated.”

Stressing on e- governance, Munde said, “E-governance will be a priority to increase the efficiency of civic work.”

He added, “The health system, increase in revenue, water supply and sanitation will receive special attention. An independent IT department will be formed. Efforts will be made to provide maximum services through e-tapal.”

› We will ensure that people’s work are done at the ward level and they do not have to come to the head office for it. TUKARAM MUNDE, NMMC commissioner

BACHCHAN KUMAR Municipal commissioner Tukaram Munde at NMMC headquarters.