NMMC blames mayor for lack of ward committees in the city ‘CITY NEEDS WARD COMMITTEES’

The Nerul police have registered a case after some unidentified accused allegedly broke into the office of a patrol pump opposite DY Patil College in Nerul and stole Rs4.56 lakh from it in the early hours of Thursday.

According to the police, the pump was shut around 11pm on Wednesday. The watchman at the petrol pump had fallen asleep when the incident took place.

“The culprits broke a glass door and entered the cashier’s office. They broke open the cupboard in the cashier’s office and stole the cash,” said Afjal Pathan, police inspector from Nerul police station.

“The other property of the petrol pump are intact,” added Pathan.

The theft came to light on Thursday morning when the proprietor arrived at the petrol pump. He then informed the police.

The police have registered a first information report (FIR) and charged the unidentified accused under section 380 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The police are looking for the accused. “There are no CCTV cameras installed in the compound. This has made it difficult to trace the accused,” Pathan said.

Another officer from Nerul police station said, “It is too early to gauge if any staffer of the pump could be involved in the crime.”

“It could also be the act of some outsiders who knew the security systems of the offices there,” he said.

“We are exploring different angles and hope to solve the case very soon,” added the officer.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has blamed mayor Sudhakar Sonawane for his failure to submit its stand on ward committees for the delay in their formation.

The ward committees were to be formed after the NMCM elections held in 2015. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had ordered a stay on their formation after the NCP got the proposal passed despite the Opposition objecting to it in the House. The state government had then asked the NMMC to submit its say within a month of the proposal being stalled.

However, the administration has now informed the NMMC general body that despite NMMC secretary Chitra Baviskar writing twice to the mayor to take up the issue at the general body meeting, the mayor is yet to do so.

“The government had stated that if the NMMC has anything to say in the matter, it should inform us within a month. Secretary Chitra Baviskar had on January 17 and February 6 written to the mayor to take the issue in the agenda. The mayor has however not taken it up,” read a statement issued by the NMMC.

“A discussion on the issue was also held with the mayor. However, with the issue still not being taken up in the general body meet in July, the municipal commissioner has asked the government to take a decision on the issue,” added the statement.

Sonawane had earlier said, “The general body is the supreme authority in the city and it had formed ward committees. The state government should respect this decision. This has become a political issue and hence, the delay. It will lead to the funds getting lapsed.”

“These committees were formed to enable certain local works on priority basis. However, it does not mean that in their absence no work will take place. We will ensure that the city does not suffer,” Sonawane had said.