Union Minister Nitin Gadkari directed officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prepare masterplan of drinking water supply, garbage disposal and sewage network to deal with spate of complaints from citizens stemming from claims of indifference on part of civic officials. The sorry state of civic affairs in city again took the center stage as an all-party meet put NMC officials in dock over poor supervision and slow pace in resolving the complaints of citizens. All the public representatives of city, including Union Minister Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with five other MLAs and MLCs took stock of the situation in city, especially relating to garbage, drinking water supply and sanitation during an hour-long exercise at NMC Headquarters at Civil Lines on Friday. In a rare show of camaraderie, ruling BJP invited Opposition MLAs, Nitin Raut and Vikas Thakre, for the review meet at NMC. BJP MLAs Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare and Mohan Mate were present as well. Besides them Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLC and President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Maharashtra State unit; MLC Pravin Datke were present at the meeting. Avinash Thakre, ex-Ruling Party Leader, Bunty Kukde were also invited for the meet wherein a thorough review of the existing situation was taken.

 

Taking note of expansion of residential area and establishment of new colonies on fringes, the all-party meet said it is time to update the master plan for drinking water supply, sanitation and also sewerage. Primarily the working of Public Health Engineering Department (PHE) came under scrutiny and all the public representatives expressed disappointment at the working of two garbage collection agencies due to which the conditions on ground is appalling. Gadkari directed officials of NMC and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) to prepare masterplan for garbage lifting and disposal and sewerage network. Also, he ordered for updating of plan for enhancing drinking water supply as many localities are yet to be connected with pipeline network. The sewerage network of city has grown old and needs to be laid new and for the same, proper planning is necessary. Nitin Raut, former Guardian Minister, claimed that at the meeting that his claims about step-motherly treatment to North Nagpur area came true as maximum problem are in this area only. The NMC machinery is unable to ensure proper collection of garbage from household and also the drinking water supply is still patchy in several residential colonies. Gadkari asked officials to explore option of construction roads within Rs 15 lakh/km in colonies that are being regularised under Gunthewari Act. Both the agencies should prepare a draft about the same and submit it to Government. Union Minister said the working of two garbage collection agencies is quite poor and asked NMC officials to pull them up. Similarly, he directed officials to speed-up laying of new pipelines in non network area so that citizens can get regular water supply. On the occasion, officials made presentation about proposed redevelopment of Cotton Market, Itwari Dahi Bazar, Santra Market, Netaji Market and Dik Dawakhana projects to Union Minister and Dy CM. Also, presentation about proposed redevelopment of Gokulpeth Market was also made. Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director, Maha Metro; Sanjeev Meena, Chairman, NIT; were also present along with officials of different agencies at the meeting. The meeting lasted hardly an hour and hence on, civic issues could be discussed although NIT related matters were also on agenda. 

 

 

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called for performance audit of functioning of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department of NMC against rising complaints about missing targets and inability to resolve complaints about sewage problems within stipulated time. Fadnavis further suggested to Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari to look into possibility of handing back garbage, sewerage and waste water subjects back to Solid Waste Management Department. These matters are currently handled by PHE and prior to that, Solid Waste Department within Health Department used to look after the same. But during the time of COVID-19, then Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Munde had issued an order creating PHE and entrusting task of supervising these subjects.