Corporators cutting across political parties have closed ranks to bring a no confidence motion tomorrow against Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe for his "undemocratic functioning" even as residents of various areas have come together to back the officer who has cracked a whip on illegal constructions.
The motion, unprecedented in NMMC history, will come up for discussion in the special general body meeting of the NCP-ruled civic body.
When contacted, Mundhe said, "I am absolute believer in democracy and follow the principles of democracy. I am trying to implement law and work as per the rule of law. The job of a municipal commissioner is to provide accessible and affordable civic services to the citizens.
"My job is to provide transparent, people-centric, effective and sensitive governance which I am providing through various initiatives," he said.
Though he is accused of "autocratic" style of functioning by politicians, Mundhe is getting huge support of residents, activists and intellectuals who organised a "Walk for Commissioner" yesterday.
However, the corporators across political spectrum are bent to remove the civic chief.
"This commissioner has zero respect for corporators who are the elected representatives. He believes only in bureaucracy and does not believe in democratic values at all. This is why no confidence motion has been initiated against him," NMMC Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane told PTI.
When asked whether all parties are backing the motion, Sonawane said, "There is no question of supporting this (motion) along the party lines. All the corporators are supporting it."
In 111-member NMMC, NCP has highest number of corporators and also holds post of Mayor whereas Deputy Mayor belongs to Congress. Interestingly, the 16-member crucial standing committee is ruled by opposition Shiv Sena.
When asked about the no confidence motion, Mundhe said he was just "doing his job".
Mundhe, for the first time in NMMC's history, had
proposed a survey to map properties falling under its limit. However, the survey was stonewalled for over 90 days by the unwilling corporators.
Mundhe took this decision following a "scam" wherein over 15,000 property owners allegedly found to have evaded paying property tax to NMMC over last decade.
"I have rationalised the tendering process system, cracked whip on illegal activities and have mechanised one of the best grievance redressal systems (in NMMC). People are very happy," Mundhe said.
Local residents feel that Mundhe is an "upright officer" and he was being targetted for acting against illegal constructions supported by some corporators in the area.
"Ever since Mundhe took over as the civic chief six months back, he has been going cracking against illegal onstructions, mostly raised by these corporators, across Navi Mumbai. They are targeting him as has put a full stop to the menace of illegal works," said Ravi Srivastava, a local resident and activist.
He said Mundhe was getting support from thousands of residents as well as of some corporators who are "not part of any illegalities".
The residents have vowed to fight any move by corporators to remove Mundhe tooth and nail.
