NASHIK, Oct 13: The Nashik Municipal Corporation was adjourned after a four-hour-long discussion to condemn civic officials, without transacting any business on its agenda.The general body meeting of the NMC held last evening witnessed the ire of the corporators, who cutting across party links condemned the civic administration for arrogance and corruption. Shiv Sena corporator and chairperson of the Divisional Civic Committee for Nashik East, Babynanda Dagale, had paid a surprise visit to the Vilholi octroi check post on September 25, but the staff had refused to give her any information. Instead, the staff had filed a police complaint against her accusing her of terrorising the staff and octroi agents.Ganpatrao Kathe alleged in the House that the civic officials and octroi agents were hand-in-glove. He said that the arrogance and secrecy of the staff indicated that they wanted to hide their misdeeds. Several corporators, including Vijay Sane (BJP), lambasted the officials for misbehaving with cityfathers. Sane, who is the leader of the Opposition, warned the officials that if they failed to reform themselves, the corporators will have to ask the government to launch an inquiry against them. Rajendra Bagul of the Congress and his party colleague Triambak Gaikwad pointed out that elected representatives had the right to find out how the civic machinery functioned. Gajanan Shelar claimed that the entire civic administration had become corrupt. Dagale defended herself by stating that her visit to the octroi naka was to get information and not to manipulate any document or procedure.Mayor Ashok Dive said that the matter had been reported to the Sena leadership. He said that the issue was subjudiced and hence he could not take any decision in the matter. A corporator, Satish Kulkarni, pointed out that during the recent encroachment drive, arrogant officials had even flattened authorised structures. Congress member Uttamrao Kamble demanded a white paper on the recent demolitions in the city.The meetingwas conducted without the municipal commissioner as K P Bakshi has gone abroad for training and the new municipal commissioner Saujat is yet to take charge. The divisional revenue commissioner Ramesh Ubale, who is officiating as the municipal commissioner did not attend the meeting.
