Mumbai’s civic administration has inducted Indian Administrative Service officer, Idzes Angmo Kundan, as Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC) to tackle monsoon-related issues in the latest round of reorganisation in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
As part of the reorganisation, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta has defined his focus areas to include policy matters, issues of inter-departmental coordination and overall supervision.
Mr. Mehta will oversee the work of the chief engineer (Developmental Plan) and all matters that require special provision of funds, sundry advances, special sanction for schemes and projects not provided for in the civic budget, vigilance (engineering side) and subjects or departments not specifically assigned to AMCs.
Ms. Kundan, who has served as Mumbai collector, director of Maharashtra’s disaster management unit (relief and rehabilitation department) and public health (Maharashtra), will now deal with issues related to disaster management, health (general hospital and medical education), Deonar abattoir, fire brigade, BEST and markets, which was earlier under AMC Sanjay Deshmukh.
Mr. Deshmukh has in turn been assigned responsibilities on matters pertaining to environmental engineering, the garden department, roads and bridges, election, storm water drains, redevelopment of BMC properties, computerisation and solid waste management (excluding projects related to dumping grounds).
Sewerage projects
AMC Sanjay Mukherjee will handle matters related to sewerage projects, finance, assessment and collection department, implementation of property tax reforms, National Urban Renewal Mission, water supply projects, coastal roads, the Goregaon-Mulund road projects and solid water management projects related to dumping grounds.
AMC, Dr. Pallavi Darade, has been assigned tasks related to the legal department, public relations, the International Relations Wing and policy for non governmental organisations, citizens groups, licences and department of shops and establishments, removal of encroachments and unauthorised constructions, dilapidated buildings, planning, district urban development agency, urban poverty alleviation, mega city projects and matters related to the art and craft centre. Both Ms. Kundan and Dr. Darade have taken up their tasks in right earnest.
While Ms. Kundan had an interaction with media-persons inviting feedback on areas of concern, Dr. Darade shot off a slew of missives to the public relations officer Khabale Patil, whose office witnessed harried officials in the face of the new assignee’s notes for immediate action and publication.
“It’s not like that. Though my entire charge has gone to her, I have been given the entire charge of subjects that were with Mr. Srinivas, in addition to SWM. New responsibilities are equally challenging,” Mr. Deshmukh told The Hindu.
The writer is a freelance journalist
IAS officer Idzes Kundan to head monsoon disaster management of the corporation
