Mayor slams Mundhe over water meters 28-year-old Kalwa man bludgeons father to death

NMMC ACTION Sonawane is upset that housing societies are being asked to install electronic water meters

Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane took on municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Wednesday at a press conference at NMMC headquarters.

Upset over the NMMC action against housing societies that had not complied with its oneweek notice to replace analog water meters with electronic ones, Sonawane warned that there could be a law and order problem in the city.

He alleged that the commissioner has taken ‘supari’ from the contractors supplying such metres.

The outrage came following an attempt to disconnect water supply at a commercial-cumresidential society at Vashi’s sector 17 on Wednesday.

Following protest by locals, the action was suspended.

Sonawane said, “There should be no compulsion and strict action on the meter issue.”

The mayor demanded that the notices be cancelled immediately.

“We had discussed the issue in the general body meeting last week and instructed the commissioner accordingly. He has yet gone ahead with action. The commissioner does not care for general body decisions and does not even reply to my letter,” said Sonawane.

He said that the companies which make water meters have been specified. They make the meters on order.

“Around Rs15 crore worth of meters will have to be installed in the city. The commissioner has taken supari from the companies. The chief minister needs to take urgent action.”

Sonawane said, “The meters are not available in the market. They cannot be replaced in seven days. Besides, the meters are costly at Rs40,000 making them unaffordable to most.”

He added, “We are not opposed to electronic metering system but give residents time. The administration can install the meters and then collect charges in instalments from the residents or wait till they are available in the market.”

He said, “I will write on the issue to the chief minister. We will take up the issue in the general body on September 2. The administration is supposed to implement the policies that we take.”

He added, “Residents should not allow meters to be changed. If there is any forceful action by civic officials, they should oppose it. No action will be allowed in the festive season.”

A 28-year-old Kalwa resident allegedly murdered his father, as the latter was always suspicious of his mother’s character. The accused also assaulted his grandmother and uncle for provoking his father, Arun, to abuse and beat his mother.

The man has been arrested and was identified as Vishnu Alzende, 28, who hails from Latur. The Alzende family used to live at Kalwa in Thane. Vishnu’s father and mother had been living separately for the past six months. Vishnu is an HSC fail and a daily wage worker.

Vishnu has been remanded in police custody till September 3.

On Wednesday around 12.30am, Vishnu left his house with a steel rod and went to his father’s place. He hit him on his head four to five times, due to which his father’s skull bone developed a deep crack.

Later, he went to his grandparents’ place at Shantinagar in Mafatlal, Thane, and assaulted his grandmother and uncle. He went to the police station and narrated the entire incident to the police, turning himself in. The cops took the victims to Shivaji hospital in Kalwa. Arun was declared dead.

Vishnu’s parents’ arguments for the last few years had a negative effect on him. Since Arun was an alcoholic, he often used to abuse and beat his wife. Senior police officer M Bagwan said, “On Wednesday, Arun called up his wife and started abusing her. Vishnu took out his bike and grabbed a steel rod and left for Arun’s house.” The police have also seized the steel rod.