Probe UMC malfunctioning: CM

Citizens of Ulhasnagar in Thane district had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court in January, urging it to 8220;put a stop to the virtual non-governance8221; in the civic body since it was upgraded to corporation status. Express Newsline had also highlighted the plight of Ulhasnagar8217;s citizens in a series of reports.

Acknowledging the inquiry, Rane said: 8220;There was already a growing concern about the breakdown in administration affecting services in the UMC. Once the findings are out, we shall initiate action against all those implicated, irrespective of partyaffiliations.8221;

Nand Lal told Express Newsline that the inquiry would cover the township8217;s insanitary conditions, unauthorised constructions, the politician-criminal nexus and the involvement of corporators in corruption.8221;The decision to conduct an inquiry has lifted the spirits of residents, who have born the brunt of the civic breakdown in the township. Says Sarla Makhija, a resident of Camp 3: 8220;We had grown to accept our misery thinking that the government didn8217;t care. It is good that the government has finally woken up to the fact that we are human and deserve to live as such.8221;

However, Rajesh Mansukhani, a college student, is cynical about government inquiries. 8220;Will the guilty be brought to book,8221; he asks.