Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Review Committee, headed by deputy commissioner Sudhir Naik, has rejected the appeal of civic officials, who were suspended in the desilting scam, for reinstatemen
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Review Committee, headed by deputy commissioner Sudhir Naik, has rejected the appeal of civic officials, who were suspended in the desilting scam, for reinstatement and has extended their suspension further.
The officials were suspended by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the civic body took strong action in the nullah-cleaning (desilting) scam and filed a case against seven contractors last year.
The review committee continued the suspension of chief engineer of Vigilance Department Uday Murudgkar and assistant engineers Sudesh Gawali, Pradip Patil, Sanjeev Koli, Ramesh Patvardhan, Rahul Parekh, Prashant Patel, Bhagwan Rane, Prafulla Wadnere, Sambhaji Bacchav, Naresh Poil and Mukadam Shantaram Korde, an RTI query has revealed.
RTI activist Anil Galgali had demanded a list of officers suspended by the BMC in the last five years, to which the BMC furnished documents of the review committee meeting, which decided on extending their suspension.
The review meeting, held on March 22, discussed the suspension of a total 41 officers from various departments, which included suspension of 12 officers in the nullah-cleaning works in September 2015.
The crackdown was initiated by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta after an inquiry ordered by him revealed shoddy pre-monsoon work, which caused flooding in many parts of Mumbai after the first heavy rainfall in June 2015.
The civic chief had suspended the SWD (Storm Water Drain) department staff ranging from chief engineer to a mukadam in September 2015 for irregularities in the desilting of drains resulting in floods.
“The decision on these officers’ suspension should be taken forward quickly as they are getting 75 per cent of their salaries just by sitting at home. If they are dismissed from service permanently, it would work as a deterrent for others,” asserted Mr Galgali.
