AN OPEN LETTER TO Hon. NMMC COMMISSIONER:

                      “ACTION WILL SPEAK LOUDER THAN ASSURANCES" 

       Heartiest warm welcome to Hon. Tukaram Mundhe sir, as a commissioner of Eco city, a planned city* and the city of 21^st century.  (*In spite of frequent digging of roads, frequent repairing of footpaths, lack of provision of duct , parking problem , increasing slum why the city is termed  as a ‘planned city’? remains unanswered question ) 

       All of sudden something happens and we feel that, “Yes! This is for what we are waiting for long period”. By referring the news in MEDIA, right from day one, it has been observed that things are changing immediately as you have started the innings as a commissioner. Generally, it has been observed that while assuming charge everyone speaks about transparent system, good governance, citizen friendly administration and so on.  Later what happens is well before all of us. As day passes all assurances evaporated with the heat of officers -political vested interest. This is what happening continuously for years together, later citizens also take it granted. After that some time ruling party changes or a commissioner gets changed. With assurances of changing party or a commissioner, again the hopes that the citizens bear get a new birth. In this chakravyoovha /maze we citizens are clogged up.   With the hope that, henceforth history won’t be repeated, an open letter to you expressing views and expectations of common citizens of Navi Mumbai. 

         Sir, same assurances was given by the former commissioner. The question remains unanswered that whether all are fulfilled?  If fulfilled then why you need to re-assure the same?  It remains unanswered. We citizens are fed up with promises and assurances. But during last 20 days, our hopes are reborn and we citizens are feeling that you are the person with action, not with just promises. Following that sending an open letter to you.

     Actually, nowadays it’s a fashion from ‘Galli to Delhi’ of using terminology about ‘good governance and transparency’ without any action. Off course, with positive approach citizens hope that your assurance is not from that category and same underlines your past. So citizens of Navi Mumbai are looking towards you with great hopes for not repeating the history of assurance. 

    All assurances need to  be reflected  in action:

        A big question is that, in what respect transparency is there in NMMC? Citizens are totally unaware of NMMC’s functioning. Citizens are totally in dark about the projects and the cost on which they are run by NMMC. Ground reality is that, citizens need to struggle to get information through RTI also. They have to fight and need consistent follow-up to receive the information. In spite of it, the claim of transparency in NMMC needs a salute.  Actually, we citizens always have a big question that everyone speaks about transparency then what pulls back them from uploading all relevant data on website of NMMC. Local governance, state Government and central Government speak about transparency, but still citizens are kept in darkness which proves ultimately that all the tears about transparency are “crocodile’s tears.” In case one claims that, ‘Like election manifesto issue ‘transparency’ is also a weapon to misguide the citizens,’ then nothing wrong in it. 

  GOOD  GOVERNANCE:   A FOUL PLAY:

 

     Unnecessary work like repairing of footpath / gutters/ manholes/ roads, replacement of paver blog is assumed as a fundamental right by every corporatar. Is all this is a part of so called vision? Notices for work issued in news paper underlines the said fact. Such Siphoning of crores of rupees shows the insensibility of administration.  It needs to change urgently.

      Recently, all the corporations are functioning in uncontrolled way because of unnecessary expenditure more than 50 % budget get siphoned in unrquired repetitive works by virtue of vested interest of politicians and bureaucrats.  To coop up skyrocketing expenditure, the simplest way used is hiking the taxes and further rise in fund is used blindly. The cycle is being repeated years together. ‘Saving money is a type of earning.’  This basic principle is buried deliberately by all of them. 

    Just take a simple example of street lights.  Proper management of streetlight / high mast  ON-OFF system can save daily around 40-50 thousand as the number of street lights in Navi Mumbai are around 32 thousand . Several such things are there where NMMC can save huge money.  But who cares for people’s money? Review of property tax will definitely turn fruitful to strengthen budget of NMMC. Several manipulations reported while ‘fixing’ property tax for individuals. 

    “Repetitive unnecessary work, maximum rate, minimum quality” seems to be the unhidden policy of NMMC. With current scenario the claim of Good Governance turns as a foul play. Former commissioner repetitively made claim that he will sanction only ‘required work’. But till today ‘required work’ term remains unidentified. Whose requirement? Requirement of officers, leaders, contractor or citizens?

PROOF OF HONESTY LIES IN ACTION:

 

       Hon. Commissioner Sir, the proof of honesty, transparency and good governance always lies in action.  So in your era citizens are expecting ground level actions which reflect all the qualities that come under ‘good governance’

      

     The possible steps to fulfill your assurance of Good and transparent governance are:

·         FINANCIAL TRANSPERENCY : To upload the information of each and every work with full of information like : nature of work , cost, period for which quality guarantee is assured, info about of the same work which was carried out previously , contractors’ details, name of the NMMC  officer who is the in charge of work.

·         NEED TO AVOID REPETATIVE WORK: Its has been observed that some of the work like repairing of footpaths , gutters, covers of manholes, roads , dividers, circles need to be avoided. To curb the siphoning of peoples money on such unwanted repetitive work, for every work maintenance clause of certain period must be included in the tender clause. For example ones footh path constructed 7 years free of cost maintenance must be mandatory with contractors.  Same strategy should be obtained for all works.

·          For illegal construction both the ward officer and local corpora tar must be held totally responsible and accountable.

·         Before presenting the budget it must be made mandatory to carry out the audit of previous year.

·         TIME BOUND TRANSGER POLICY: As all aware of the root cause behind corruption is vested interest of the officers and a handshake with politicians. To curb this, the system must be so redefined that every employee gets transferred automatically after completion of 3 years tenure. Inter-transfer between different corporations will turn the best solution.

·         Provision of multilayer DUCT: While construction of any road the utmost importance must be given for provision of multilayer duct, laying of crossing pipes after 300/500 meters, to curb wasting of money on frequent digging.

·         Availability of ONLINE info of use of corporater’s fund.

·         “All equally responsible means nobody is responsible” seems to be working culture of corporations because of which quality deterioration responsibility remains without unearth.  Responsibility policy should be fixed.

·         Active participation of citizens needs to be framed.

·         Need of review of illegal /unauthorized water connections.

·         Cash transactions for paying different bills to NMMC need to avoid. By giving special discount, all transactions must be made mandatory ‘e-transactions’.

·         Implementation of “citizen’s charter” to gear up the delivery system for people.

·         ON LINE GRIEVANCE PORTAL: To overcome the current one way communication culture from citizen to administration only, some responsive team should be set, so that the grievances from people will not remain unattended. For every complaint citizens must get docket number.

·         Property tax is the main source of income for NMMC. It is learn that in most cases carpet area is shown less than the actual area to decrease the property tax of those citizens.  As NMMC does settlement with defaulters, most defaulters deliberately avoids paying property tax regularly. Hence, stringent action needed against the defaulters.  All employees and officers working for more than 3 years at same department need to be transferred as it is a sensitive department. 

·         Utmost attention has to be paid to local health centers of NMMC.

·         CURB CORRUPTION IN EDUCATION Dept: Education is a Nobel cause. Corruption in purchasing of 27 items which is provided to students need to be curb. Market strategy is that, when purchased quantity increases, rate decreases but in case of NMMC it was found that in spite of huge quantity purchase rate is almost double/triple than the market standard rate. Quality of purchased items is also a big issue.

·         Implementation of Autonomous vigilance section to get rid of sky rocketing corruption.

·         Till today the contractor decides which work is to be carried out. For said work right from preparation of file and sanctioning same will be totally done by contractor. An officer just acts as a rubber stamp with greased palm.  This culture of preparation of file by contractor and moving same from table to table urgently need to stop.

·         Mandatory field visit to all officers before taking any decision about work or sanctioning bill of said work. Current culture is that even a ward officer never visits his ward area.

·         General observation is that, action against street hawkers is just a eyewash. All drama get over 2/3 hours.  Some of the local vendors claim that they are paying “hafta” of RS. 1000 to Rs. 5000 as per the place of business and turnover of business. 

·         Unwanted repetitive work of garden department must be overruled. Mango garden located at Sector 4, BELAPUR is best example of unwanted work. Recently total wall of garden replaced, same is the case with DUCK pond.

·         FILE TRACKING SYSTEM: To curb the purposeful act of delay and deny, “Table to Table file Movement TRACK system” need to be implemented urgently. On the back side of front cover of file columns like “ Sr. No , receive date , name of the officer and section , remarks ,  reason for denial or sanction, sign of officer , dispatch date”  must be printed. Such act will be useful to track vested interest. This system will also highlight the handful of honest employees and their honesty be reflected on paper for their duteous style of work and also it is necessary to face the blame of inefficiency because of corrupt ones.

        Off course several ways are there if administration and politicians keeps hands in hand (like that currently for making corruption) to curb the corruption and to make optimistic use of fund collected from people.   The budget of NMMC is about 1800 crores and is a huge amount. Proper use of fund can definitely prove all the labels of Navi Mumbai into reality. 

Thanking you.

   Looking positively for feedback.

                                                                                                         

SUDHIR L. DANI, BELAPUR.

                                                                                                9869226272                                       

                                                                                                          danisudhir@gmail.com