NMC apathetic towards two of its powerful bodies

NAGPUR: Two of Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s most powerful bodies – one controlling the drinking water supply and the other, the city bus service – seem to be a neglected lot. The Nagpur Environmental Services Limited (NESL) and City Transport Committee, earlier known as Nagpur Mahanagar Parivahan Limited (NMPL), are nowhere near achieving their stated goals which has resulted into little improvement in the city’s water works and city bus service.
The latest example is the decision to hold the meeting of NESL board of directors after a gap of eight months. The board’s meeting was held on February 2. The last meeting was held on May 15, 2014. Shockingly, the minutes of the last meeting were approved in the meeting on February 2. According to norms, the resolutions and decisions taken in the board meetings are implemented only after confirmation of minutes of the meeting in the next meeting. It goes to prove the callous attitude toward the NESL which was constituted for operation and maintenance of water works.
NESL comprises 11 directors with mayor as chairman, municipal commissioner as vice-chairman, and managing director, four directors from office-bearers, and five directors from administration (heads of various departments).
Citing huge financial losses and poor services in water works, the NESL was formed in August 31, 2009, expressly to make the water works a no-profit-no-loss affair. Also, the plan was to hand over sewage services and environment related services to NESL.
Unfortunately, financial losses in water works increased after the formation of NESL. The NMC is extending financial assistance to NESL to pay the salaries of employees, power bills and raw water charges etc.
NMPL is in a similar condition. It was also formed in 2009 and scrapped in 2013, only to be replaced by City Transport Committee. Like NESL, the city transport committee is being given financial assistance by the NMC every month to pay salaries and other establishment charges. The committee has a huge scope of earning its own revenue but has failed to settle the dispute with the Starbus operator in the last year.
Unfortunately, the 13-member committee headed by Sudhir Raut is yet to prepare its own budget which is mandatory according to the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act. The committee too meets after long gaps.
NMC sources told TOI that the NESL and city transport committee is organizing meeting only in case of taking policy decisions. “The two bodies are supposed to take regular review and improve the services but are not doing so,” the source said.
Mayor Pravin Datke admitted the fault of holding the meetings of NESL after a long gaps. “It was my maiden meeting of NESL on February 2. I will ensure meeting of NESL once or twice a month. Regular review of water works is being done by water works committee and NESL’s subcommittee,” he said.
Interestingly, Datke had assumed the charge as mayor on September 9, 2014 and officially took charge of NESL chairman in the meeting held on February 2.