I will bring BMC back on the right track8217;

MUMBAI, MAY 31:High-profile bureaucrat K Nalinakshan has been appointed commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC at a...

MUMBAI, MAY 31:

High-profile bureaucrat K Nalinakshan has been appointed commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC at a time when Asia8217;s largest civic body is faced with a serious crisis. Both financially and administratively, the municipal corporation has lost its credibility, and chief minister Narayan Rane has apparently deployed Nalinakshan to restore order in the crisis-ridden corporation.

People will notice changes within a specified period. My endeavour will be to see that the people of Mumbai feel the BMC exists for them. My priority will be to provide a clean, efficient, transparent and people-oriented administration and make the city as clean as possible. Though we will not be able to make it like Singapore or Dubai, our approach will be to provide a better environment and make the city safe and worth living. We will implement the charter for citizens in letter and spirit. The charter inter-alia provides for rights and responsibilities of citizens. We will ensure that applications submitted by citizens are disposed of within a stipulated period.

On the financial situation

The corporation is in deep trouble with a deficit of Rs 600 crore. Though it will be improper for me to comment on the financial situation without actually verifying the documents, improving it will certainly be a challenge. Though I am not in a position to improve things, my priority will be arrest the on-going trend and bring the civic body back on the right track.

On hawkers

It will not be possible for the corporation to remove hawkers, since it is a question of their livelihood. At the same, it is the responsibility of the BMC to provide clean and clear footpaths for citizens. My effort will be to find out a via media, so that hawkers do not lose their livelihood and we have clear footpaths. Of course, a solution will have to be found keeping in mind the order of the High Court.

On encroachments

My top priority will be to ensure that new encroachments do not come up in the metropolis. I will fix responsibility on the concerned officials, and we will take the help of the local police for the purpose. Once we are able to halt new encroachments, we will turn to existing illegal structures, which will also be removed in a time-bound period. A specific action plan will be drafted for the purpose.

On monsoon preparations and removal of garbage

So far as monsoon preparations are concerned, I am sure my predecessor must have taken adequate steps. I have also convened a special meeting tomorrow to take stock of the situation. I feel that besides the routine programme, we will have to chalk out a long-term plan in view of the magnitude of the city. It will not be a fire-fighting exercise, but people will certainly feel during the monsoon that drastic steps have been taken. For removal of garbage and providing of a better environment, we will have to tighten the existing machinery. In addition, we will have to chalk out solid waste disposal plans.

On relations between the commissioner and mayor

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It is true that during the Mayor-In-Council system, relations between the commisioner and mayor were not cordial. My effort will be ensure cordial relations. I will give maximum value to the opinion and views expressed by the mayor as well as elected representatives. In a democratic set-up, it will be wrong on the part of the commissioner to ignore plans submitted by the mayor. My view is that a bureaucrat will not be able to deliver the goods unless he has the cooperation of elected representatives, particularly the mayor.