MUMBAI, FEB 9: The Inspector General of Police (Protection of Civil Rights), V K Talwar, has unwittingly got himself involved in a rather uncivil fracas with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The civic officials from the `A' ward are livid with IGP Talwar for allegedly ordering a police constable to remove two BMC garbage containers from a spot near his residence and dump it elsewhere, without seeking permission of the civic authorities.However, Talwar who stays on the first floor of Yashodhan building (opposite the Cricket Club of India, Churchgate) has clarified that there has been some `misunderstanding' and he is ready to apologise to the BMC for the same.``Actually the two garbage containers that were kept within the government barracks had not been cleaned for several days, thereby creating an unhygienic environment. Hence, today I had only asked a senior PI from the Essential Commodities Wing to get the filth removed from the site, and not the containers,'' IGP Talwar told ExpressNewsline.``The Sr PI Sabde, though, has taken my word literally and physically removed the garbage containers from the spot; like throwing the baby out with the bath water! I do apologise for whatever inconvenience I have caused to the BMC,'' said Talwar.However, the `A' ward officer, Rajendra Vale was not convinced. ``No one but the ward officer has the right to remove garbage or the containers, so the physical removal of the containers and dumping them bang opposite the CCI, on Dinshaw Wachha Road, is blatant interference in civic duty and should not be taken lightly,'' he said.The ward officer added that the fact that such a senior police officer was involved makes the issue all the more `serious'. ``Talwar could have just phoned me about the filth and I would have immediately got it removed. However, this morning Sr PI Sabde simply informed me that he is acting under the orders of IGP Talwar and removing the containers. He stubbornly refused to listen to my repeated pleas that such an actwould be totally illegal,'' he disclosed.However, Talwar reiterated: ``As a law enforcer I cannot imagine breaking the law myself. I am certainly going to pull up Sr PI Sabde for today's incident, which was a serious misunderstanding. In my Yashodhan building there are senior IAS, IPS and high court judges residing, which is why I was concerned about the filth in the compound.''
