PUNE, April 16: The Pune Municipal Commissioner Arun Bhatia on Friday decided to tone up the efficiency of the administration by transferring 26 junior engineers and 155 junior grade clerks to various departments. As a part of his commitment towards providing better amenities for slum dwellers, Bhatia has also undertaken the pending work of declaring 200 slums as `authorised' on a war footing.Bhatia who held marathon meetings with heads of various departments during the day took stock of various issues demanding immediate attention. Explaining the need for transferring employees on such a large scale, Bhatia said that the move would provide better opportunities for personnel who have never been given the chance to push ahead.The transfers were aimed at officials who had worked on a particular post for over five years. It would also enable them to gain experience of working at other departments while help curb corrupt practices. Though he admitted that mere transfers would not resolve the problem of weeding out corruption, a start can be made which can be followed by disciplinary action if need be.While six to seven junior engineers of the building permission section , Bhatia said so far officials in the water supply section had not been transferred because it would affect the ongoing work. On the issue of declaring 200 slums as authorised, Bhatia said a survey would be undertaken and work would be completed within two months. Since 200 slums prior to January 1, 1995 have not been declared as authorised, they remain devoid of development and other benefits.Bhatia also proposed formulating a scheme for the resettlement of slum dwellers apart from the existing 2.5 FSI plan of the State Government. However, the proposal will be placed before the General Body for approval. Taking a humanitarian view of the problems faced by slum dwellers specially students who often have to make do without electricity, the PMC will not insist on submission of ration cards or proof of names in the voter's list while allotting the No-Objection Certificate. The MSEB can only give electricity connections on the submission of an NOC.The city engineer has been directed to prepare a list of those commercial establishments having an area of more than 500 sq ft and have violated the FSI regulations thus creating problems of traffic congestion, Bhatia said adding that officials have been also directed to work on the permission for construction of new buildings. There are 2,351 such proposals awaiting sanction and after conducting a thorough check, the work will be completed by May 15.Similarly there are 1,600 illegal structures within the old city limits against which action is pending. Nearly 516 matters are in the court, out of which there are stay orders on 307 cases. The issue however will be expedited, Bhatia said while assuring to keep his earlier promise of a transparent administration by making available files and documents in concerned departments to citizens.
