Enact special laws to stop migration

Exactly 100 days after the Mayor-in-Council MiC system was introduced, Mumbai's Mayor Nandu Satam claims files are moving faster in the...

Exactly 100 days after the Mayor-in-Council MiC system was introduced, Mumbai8217;s Mayor Nandu Satam claims files are moving faster in the new scheme of things, and that the BMC has been able to take some tough decisions. In an interview to Prasanna Khapre, Satam refers to the changes brought about by the MiC and the functioning of the council members.

What, according to you, are the achievements of the MiC in the last three months?

A hundred days is too short a period to judge the achievements of any new system, especially in a large organisation like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC, where a century-old system has been replaced. But the MiC has taken up many issues on a war footing. We have taken action against contractors who haven8217;t properly cleaned drains and recovered fine to the tune of Rs 5.5 lakh. We have repaired pot-holes as well, and the drive against hawkers outside railway stations has also been quite successful. Also, the MiC has given priority to health. Itcleared the proposal for construction of a cancer hospital at Marol and also inaugurated the Siddharth Hospital at Goregaon.

The proposal about the repair of pot-holes was mired in controversy, and for the first time this work was delayed due to a conflict between Suhasini Parab in-charge of roads and you.

I admit the repair work was delayed, and finally the commissioner cleared it under his powers. But no inconvenience was caused to the people. The confusion has now been sorted out, and there8217;s no conflict between council members. Everybody8217;s busy getting to know his/her department.

Is it true that council members are now realising they have limited powers, and have made a demand for greater powers?

Yes, some of the council members did complain about this. When the MiC was introduced, the council members thought they would be vested with powers like state ministers. But gradually, they realised there were limitations. Nobody can have unlimited powers. Even the commissioner has to workwithin certain limits. There is a conflict between council members and the BMC staff too.

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Council members have expressed their displeasure to you saying they don8217;t have access to all files.

Some members have complained against the BMC staff, but the truth is that it takes time to settle down in a new system. These are minor things. The BMC staff is co-operating with me, and the members and the staff will have to act as per the written laws. The problem of encroachments seems to be getting worse. Though the BMC has started demolishing illegal hutments, there8217;s no check on new ones coming up.

How does the MiC plan to tackle this?

We are discussing a fresh proposal regarding the provision of civic amenities to citizens, which will take care of this problem. About 10,000 people migrate to Mumbai every day, and we have our limitations. The only solution is to stop people from migrating. And there8217;s little the BMC can do. MPs from the State should take up the issue with the Centre. If theCentre can enact special laws for Kashmir, why not for Mumbai? The Centre should pull up states from where these people migrate.

You are reportedly unhappy with two of the council members. Are you planning to replace them?

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I will take a decision in this regard only after six months. I will give them some time to improve. If they still don8217;t, I will definitely take action.

What is the MiC8217;s manifesto, and what will you promise Mumbai8217;s citizens?

I have decided not to declare any manifesto. I will take up schemes one by one and implement them.