Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, May 19: Ulhasnagar8217;s Municipal Commissioner Captain S H Shool has got the marching orders from the state government. He has been transferred to the Employee State Insurance Scheme ESIS as labour commissioner. Though it is yet to be confirmed, sources in Mantralaya indicate that he is also facing an inquiry over alleged corruption charges.
The order to step down was served late on Friday itself, added sources. Repeated enquiries since then have drawn a blank, as Shool refused to comment on the matter. quot;I refuse to speak to the media,quot; he told Express Newsline on the phone, adding. quot;I am least bothered about what is written in newspapers, as it makes no difference to people in my position.quot;
After repeated attempts by corporatorsand residents to get the encroachment department to demolish the structure failed, a complaint was made to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who deputed the urban development secretary Nand Lal to make enquiries on April 12.
Shool had tried to underplay the recent visit by the development secretary, insisting that quot;it was a routine visit.quot; It has now been reliably learnt that on April 15 ultimatum had been set by Nand Lal asking Shool to explain why he had not taken any action against errant officials of the encroachment department.
The UMC is now buzzing with rumours that Shool pocketed a cool Rs 5 lakh in the deal. quot;He was trying to portray a very harassed Mr Clean image, but he couldn8217;t fool all of us,quot; claimed a senior official.
Shool, who was appointed as commissioner on January 20, 1997, was not very popular with either the administration or the elected representatives. Although he initially won praise as a tough taskmaster, he soon ruffled quite a few feathers over his ad hoc decisions, which he wasprone to reversing equally suddenly. quot;Most of his time would be taken up sparring with corporators or fire-fighting when they ganged up to create further problems for him,quot; stated another official.
Commented erstwhile mayor Ganesh Chaudhary Shiv Sena: quot;I am glad that the eclipse which had clouded the UMC is finally clearing away.quot; The present mayor Yashaswini Naik told Express Newsline that she would request the state government quot;to appoint someone who would work and do something for Ulhasnagar.quot;
Already, Navin Kumar Srivastava, from the General Administration Department, Mantralaya, is being tipped off as the man to step into Shool8217;s shoes.
