Advisory body to civic roads department headless

The committee,which according to a 2006 Bombay High Court order also includes citizen activists as its members,analyses problems related to the city’s roads,bridges and traffic,and provides solutions.

According to a senior civic official,a circular had been issued by municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte to chief engineer of the roads department,Dattaray Dixit,to appoint STAC members.

“Merani retired in March because of his health. Others,too,retired for various reasons; most of the members were over 75 years of age. After Merani’s retirement,the municipal commissioner had issued a circular to the chief engineer of the roads department,asking him to appoint new committee members and the chairman. So far,that has not been done,” said a senior official from the roads department.

Recently appointed additional municipal commissioner S V R Srinivas,who is in charge of the roads department,said a meeting regarding the committee will be held this week. “I am aware of the situation. I will be holding a review meeting of STAC meeting issue this week and we should have some decisions and a plan regarding the committee by then,” said Srinivas.

The failure to set up a committee also reflects the civic body’s increasingly lackadaisical attitude towards seeking advice from STAC. According to members,in the past year,the number of problems referred to the committee has noticeably decreased.

Merani,who had been a part of the committee since its inception,admitted to the trend in the last one year. “We meet at least once in three months,but in the past,we met more often. It depends on the additional municipal commissioner in charge of roads and the municipal commissioner. In our meetings,we discuss the problems brought to us by the civic body and inquire if our suggestions are being taken up and what has been the result,” said Merani.

Since 2012,standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale has repeatedly criticised STAC for the failing condition of roads. “STAC is responsible for bad recommendations such as the cold-mix technology for filling potholes,which has been a complete failure. They should also be made accountable for bad roads and penalised,” said Shewale at a standing committee meeting on July 24.

“STAC is an advisory body; it is not binding on BMC to follow our guidelines. In 2004,we issued over 90 guidelines on roads and 70 to 80 on bridges. If these were followed,the condition of roads would be better,” Merani said.

alison.saldanha@expressindia.com