PUNE, JUNE 13: The Express Citizens' Forum (ECF) today told the new Pune Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad that his reported decision to restore the facility of the use of staff cars by the Leader of the House and Opposition, has sent ``a wrong signal'' to the citizens of Pune who were looking forward to a clean and efficient administration.``It is a matter of great concern to us that one of your very first acts has been outside the provisions of law,'' Major General S C N Jatar (retired) said in his letter, facsimiled to the new civic chief. ``We are sure you are aware that allotment of this perquisite is patently illegal and against the provisions of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act since these posts do not exist in the statute. We request you to immediately withdraw this illegal perquisite as a corrective measure.''
In another letter to Gaikwad, Jatar advised the new chief that though he was taking over as a municipal commissioner with a good reputation, ``every action ofyours will be judged afresh.''
``You cannot obviously rest on your laurels. You are aware that you have only two eyes but there are two million eyes watching every action of yours,'' he added.
Jatar requested the commissioner ``to honour the sentiments of the people of Pune.''
``Punekars,'' he said, ``are essentially a simple lot. They have a lot of resilience. However, if their patience is tried far too long, I am afraid they will rise in revolt. The history of Pune is replete with instances of citizens rising in revolt against injustice. I am afraid the patience of Punekars has now run out. You have come at a very crucial time. I strongly recommend that you streamline the functioning of the corporation on a priority basis and make the entire system wholly transparent... else, you will have to face the wrath of the public.''
Among the suggestions Jathar makes for streamlining the corporation's functioning are:
Rationalise the system in the PMC. A management information system should beintroduced to keep citizens informed every quarter year, of the progress on the implementation of the budget, recovery of tax arrears, demolitions of unauthorised structures and so on. Reasons for shortfalls from targets, if any, should be indicated. Strict budgetary discipline should be enforced.An anti-corruption drive should be relentlessly pursued. All those who have misused their authority and taken personal favours should be penalised. Taking a leaf out of what N Vittal has said, use retired and experienced persons to conduct quick investigations.The accounts of the PMC for the last three years should be audited by a chartered accountant. The audit should be an annual feature and the report should be available to the public for scrutiny. Transparency would automatically bring in accountability.The system of allotting ad-hoc funds to wards to be spent at the discretion of the corporators should be discontinued unless the works are specified and budgeted. The `agreement' whereby eachcorporator is allowed to recruit one candidate on the rolls of the PMC should be revoked as it is illegal. Officials should remain in contact with the public. This is especially important because the people see corporators only once when he or she comes to ask for votes. The persons suspended by Gaikwad's predecessor for alleged misdeeds should be subjected to a proper enquiry and penalised, if found guilty.Politicians and corporators against whom cases have become known should not now be exonerated.Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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