MNS demands full-time civic commissioner

NASHIK: Mayor Yatin Wagh, along with other Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders, staged a protet on the premises of the municipal corporation on Wednesday demanding the full-fledged appointment of a municipal commissioner for the city.
They submitted a memorandum to the revenue commissioner, along with a copy to be forwarded to the chief minister.
At present, tribal welfare commissioner Sanjeev Kumar is officiating as the municipal commissioner.
The protesters also complained about a number of development project not being sanctioned by the civic administration and asked the municipal commissioner to clarify his stand in a week. The previous municipal commissioner, Sanjay Khandare, was transferred in May ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The memorandum submitted by MNS group leader Ashok Satbhai mentioned that many developmental works in various prabhags were pending for want of the municipal commissioner's signature. It also speculated that the delay in appointing a full-time municipal commissioner may be the state government's plan for not allowing smooth functioning of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for Kumbh works.
Speaking to media persons, Wagh said, "The then municipal commissioner (Sanjay Khandare) had been transferred during the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections and since then, the officiating municipal commissioner has been taking care of civic matters. I had sent letters to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan twice seeking a full-time commissioner for the NMC. I had even personally met the chief minister during the meeting over the local body tax in Mumbai last month, who in turn had assured that a new municipal commissioner would be appointed within eight days. But this has not yet happened. The absence of a full-time municipal commissioner is affecting the works of the NMC. Kumbh mela will be held next year and works related to it have already begun. At this juncture, the NMc needs the municipal commissioner to manage matters. We will pursue the issue further and meet the chief minister soon."
The MNS leaders also asked the municipal commissioner to take a clear stand on his position ? whether he wanted to be the municipal commissioner or tribal welfare commissioner. Speaking to TOI, officiating municipal commissioner Kumar said, "The issue of appointing a full-time municipal commissioner rests with the state government. Regarding the second issue, we do keep sanctioning a number of works; but sometimes we have to postpone them due financial reasons. The civic administration also has to pay salaries of the employees and spend on office maintenance, among other things."
Revenue commissioner Eknath Davle said, "I will forward the memorandum to the state government. I have already informed my seniors who will a take decision on this regard."