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Now, municipal commissioners to hear citizens' problems for 2 hrs dailyYogesh
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In a move that will bring cheer to the public, the state's urban development
department has is sued a government resolution (GR) to all municipal
commissioners asking them to meet visitors for at least two hours to settle
their grievances on a daily basis. The GR was issued after it was found that 25
per cent of visitors to Mantralaya come with civic grievances that are not
addressed at the local level. The directives have been issued by Urban
DevelopmentII (UD-II) which looks after the civic administration.
Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Manisha Mhaiskar, the principal secretary of UD-II,
said: “We have many visitors in Mantralaya and at least 25 per cent come
because their problems are not solved at municipal corporation level and the
commissioner or officer concerned did not meet them.“
“In Mantralaya, the chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya meets visitors for 1
hour every day even without appointments. Sufficient time must be given to meet
citizens who approach the officials without appointment,“ Mhaiskar added.
The GR says the citizens wish to take their grievances to the civic
commissioner and it has been observed that such interactions do not happen,
which makes them follow the case at the state level.
It adds that this is not good for a transparent and responsible administration
and it is expected that such problems are solved at corporation level. Sources
in the UD said most of the complaints are from Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Mumbai municipal commission er, Ajoy Mehta, said: “In BMC, officials meet
people at all levels. Apart from the commissioner, additional commissioners,
deputy commissioners and even assistant commissioner meet the public on a
regular basis.“
UD feels that if such a measure is not taken seriously the reputation of state
and municipal bodies will be tarnished. This move will help form a good opinion
about the civic bodies and the government in the minds of people.
Thane municipal commissioner, Sanjeev Jaiswal, said: “In Thane, I have assigned
Monday and Tuesday for hearing public grievances. Apart from this, the
commissioner meets the public on other days too.“
Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner, Dinesh Waghmare, pointed that he had not
come across the GR, but said that UD had called for a meeting on this issue on
Wednesday.
