Pandemonium in NMC meet over OCW

 

* General body meeting adjourned as Opposition members create noisy scenes, raise slogans against OCW

Staff Reporter

The general body meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) held on Saturday was stormy. As expected, the Opposition corporators led by Vikas Thakre, Leader of Opposition, raised the issue of excess payment of Rs 26 crore to Orange City Water (OCW) and alleged that the ruling side and administration were both shielding the private firm.

Thakre raised the issue during question hour. Quoting from the audit para of Accountant General, Thakre said that NMC had made excess payment of Rs 26 crore to OCW. “I want to know if the AG’s observation is correct,” he said. Sanjay Gaikwad, Executive Engineer, tried to give an explanation but Thakre said that he wanted answer in ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Shravan Hardikar, Municipal Commissioner, intervened and informed the House that AG had sent a query to NMC, which was replying to the same with material facts. “As per the process, we have to give our explanation. Later, AG will take decision whether to confirm the para or not. At present, we cannot comment whether the observations made in the para are correct or incorrect,” he said. Not satisfied with Municipal Commissioner’s reply, Thakre accused the BJP-led ruling side and the civic administration of shielding OCW.

As the time specified for question hour was over, Praveen Datke, Mayor, announced that question hour had ended. This made Thakre and other corporators from the Opposition benches furious. They stormed into the well of the House and started raising slogans against OCW as well as the ruling side. Thakre was accompanied by Prashant Dhawad, Arun Dawre, Sandeep Sahare and others. Following this, Mayor adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

When the House proceedings resumed, the Opposition corporators continued with sloganeering. Mayor repeatedly asked Thakre and others to occupy their seats. Amid noise, the nominations to Special Committees were announced. As Mayor’s appeal failed to evoke positive response from the Opposition, Mayor adjourned the House for five minutes. Later, when the House proceedings resumed, noisy scenes still continued. Amid pandemonium, Mayor went ahead with the remainder of the agenda of the meeting and announced final adjournment of the meeting.

Scrap agreement with OCW: Vikas Thakre

After the meeting, Vikas Thakre told reporters that Accountant General had remarked that NMC’s response was ‘untenable’ and had sent the para to Urban Development Department. “Mayor should show courage to act against OCW or resign,” he said. He also demanded action against ‘the then Municipal Commissioner, and all officers concerned of Water Works Department’ during whose tenure the agreement with OCW was signed. He alleged that there was a ‘big scam’ in agreement. “The agreement needs to be scrapped in the light of audit observations. As against 24x7 water supply, OCW is providing water for only two hours. The water distribution losses have been 67 per cent or above since 2011-12. There are complaints of excess billing to consumers. Though OCW is being paid hefty amount, NMC is bearing the burden of electricity bills,” Thakre alleged. If the NMC failed to take any action against OCW, Thakre threatened to file a public interest litigation on the basis of audit observations.

No scam in agreement with OCW: Mayor

Praveen Datke, Mayor, hit back at Vikas Thakre, Leader of Opposition, and said that there was ‘no scam’ in the agreement with OCW. “NMC followed due procedure of consultations, and then prepared the draft of the agreement. The draft was placed before general body for approval. Barring three corporators, who expressed their dissent, all other corporators belonging to different political parties cleared the agreement with OCW with overwhelming majority. So, where is the scam?” he asked. Asked about Thakre’s demand for his (Datke’s) resignation, Mayor said sarcastically, “It is Thakre’s job to demand resignation.”

(20-06-15)