‘Insult’ of 11 corporators by OCW rocks NMC gen body

Nagpur: Some 11 corporators of the BJP-led ruling alliance were allegedly insulted by private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW). The BJP reportedly promised to discuss the issue in the general body meeting on Friday, but then kept mum. Interestingly, the Congress-led opposition raised the issue and did not allow the house to function. The proposals on agenda were passed without discussions, with no decision taken on the insult of the corporators.
After the demonstrations inside the house, mayor Pravin Datke also faced strong protests by Shiv Sena woman corporator Alka Dalal and 11 corporators of ruling alliance outside the Town Hall at Mahal.
When the general body meeting started, leader of opposition group Vikas Thakre raised the issue of the insult of ruling alliance corporators by OCW. “Corporators were booked by police following an FIR by OCW. The BJP did not take any cognisance. Now, OCW has even insulted the ruling alliance corporators. BJP is under pressure from its top leaders to not act against OCW. But we will not tolerate such insult. In fact, OCW should be ousted as water supply services are worsening,” he said.
Thakre also accused the BJP of protecting tar road works contractors as inquiry report on road works scam was not tabled in the house.
One of the ruling alliance corporators, Ravindra Dolas, also raised the insult by OCW officials. But Datke wanted the house to discuss only the proposals on the agenda. Congress corporators rushed into the well of the house and staged demonstrations. After adjourning the meeting for 10 minutes, Datke read out the proposals on the agenda and declared them approved before winding up proceedings.
Later, the 11 corporators staged demonstrations outside Town Hall, condemning the inaction against OCW. Datke assured to take up the issue in the next general body meeting.
Dalal shouted at the mayor and also condemned the lack of discussions on the proposals submitted by her. “One related to NMC giving benefits to a private educational institution and another related to Maskasath RoB. It took me two years to bring the issues to the general body. Now, I will have to again follow the same process. It is an injustice towards a woman corporator,” she said.
Ruling alliance corporator and former mayor Kishor Dorle said the BJP dumped them after taking advantage of their support. “BJP gained power at NMC in 2012 with the help of independent corporators and those from small parties. BJP leaders broke our team and inducted a few of us into the party. We raised issues related to OCW with mayor and also ruling party leader Dayashankar Tiwari, but got no response. We decided to go to OCW office and solve the problems. OCW locked the office and took us for a meeting to the terrace. None of the OCW officials came to discuss the issue. We objected to OCW’s behaviour and left. Then we met municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar and lodged a complaint against OCW,” he said.
No decision was taken on the proposal seeking increase in corporators’ remuneration. General body has passed a resolution in this regard some 18 months ago and it is pending with the government.
Datke said Hardikar will submit action taken report on alleged road works scam in the next meeting.