DP outcry effect? Civic chief set to name PR man

MUMBAI: Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta, who has been just one month into the job, seems to not want to take chances with his public image, especially in light of the flak his predecessor Sitaram Kunte received over the controversial Development Plan 2034. The BMC chief is all set to appoint a general manager (public relations) for his office next week.
Sources from the civic body said Ram Dotonde will join as general manager (PR) in the municipal commissioner’s office by Monday, the day he retires from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) as chief general manager (corporate communications). Kunte had received criticism over the draft DP and was transferred barely a few days after the state asked the civic body to revise and rework the DP. While Kunte was transferred as principal secretary of the environment department, a post held by Mehta until April 26, he was recently again transferred to the finance department, where he would now head the expenditure branch.
Mehta took charge as the 28th municipal commissioner on April 27. Sources from the civic administration said Mehta has been particular about the right information reaching the press and during the recent Kalbadevi fire incident, which claimed the lives of four senior fire officers, all information about the incident timeline, the enquiry committee to be formed and the deceased fire officers was made available from the BMC PR department promptly.
Though Dotonde was unavailable for comment, a source close to him said, “Yes, it’s true he would be taking charge as general manager PR. His role as PR officer will be limited to the municipal commissioner’s office as there is already a separate PR department for the BMC and functioning of its ward offices”.
Dotonde is expected to act as a bridge between the civic chief and the media and work towards improving the commissioner’s image and give him media feedback. Sources said Dotonde has previous experience of working with Mehta when the latter was managing director of MSEDCL .