Bhatia suspends 20 officials

While Bhatia said seven had returned to work, the 20 suspended officials had promptly been replaced. Ravindra Raaste has been posted as city engineer, Latkar as development engineer, Ramesh Botalji as Assistant MunicipalCommissioner, C K Deshmukh as director, Urban Development department, Narottam Chavan as Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Shriniwas Bonala as development engineer and Pingale as legal adviser.

The move has shocked office-bearers and elected representatives alike, with Mayor Dutta Gaikwad meeting the 20 officials at the University of Pune campus to hear their grievances. Gaikwad charged Bhatia with having a 8220;penchant8221; for digging up cases and records which hampered the city8217;s development. 8220;The entire administrative machinery has collapsed,8221; Gaikwad said.

Bhatia denied the charges and expressed amazement at the manner in which his acts, aimed at tackling corruption and providing a clean administration, were being misinterpreted. 8220;When you, the media, citizens and corporators point out irregularities, complain against officials who are corrupt, should I not take action,8221; Bhatia said.

The system requires a major overhaul, wherein civic officials working in the same posts for over 20 years haddeveloped links with the locals and had vested interests, Bhatia said, reiterating that citizens and the administration would not fall prey to such tactics.

Asked about allegations like officials being asked to submit written statements about decisions taken under the emergency powers of former municipal commissioners Ramanath Jha and Rajiv Agarwal, old files and records being recalled and mental harassment being caused, Bhatia cited instances to point out that his actions were only undertaken in the corporation8217;s interest.

He cited the case of Savarkar Bhavan, where Sai Service was misusing the space allotted for parking purposes. Harihar, who had been asked to pursue the matter, delayed providing information, Bhatia said, and asked why the nonsense8217; should be accepted for 10 years. 8220;Obviously, I am going to ask whether the general body had granted permission, and only old files would provide the answer. So what8217;s wrong with that?8221; Bhatia asked.

He pooh-poohed other allegations and quoted aninstance of how, when a group of women from firing villages urged the commissioner to take taxes, the collector charged an extra amount to do so!

Bhatia also dismissed the proposed move by elected representatives to table a no-confidence motion against him. 8220;That does not bother me. Anyway, let8217;s see what stuff the corporators are made of. I am willing to participate as an observer,8221; the commissioner said.

The mayor facsimiled a report on the developments to the State Government and told mediapersons that the officials had complained of undue pressure from the commissioner.

Bhatia hatao campaign picks up steam

Suresh Kalmadi8217;s Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has taken the lead in garnering support for a Bhatia-hatao campaign.8217; The sources said Leader of the House Chandrakant Chhajed, whose official car had been taken back by Bhatia, is meeting corporators to gather support for the campaign. According to sources, Congress corporators have refused to support the campaign saying a finaldecision should be taken by the party, considering elections were round the corner. BJP corporators also appear to be lying low as far as the issue is concerned, although Bhatia had embarrassed the alliance government. BJP group leader in the municipal corporation Suhas Kulkarni, however, was present at the university meeting called by mayor.

Bhatia hatao campaign picks up steam