Appointed civic officials sit idle waiting for plum posts in Pune Municipal Corporation as city parts reel under floods

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is busy tackling the situation arising out of the recent floods. It is facing a manpower crunch. Two posts of the Additional Municipal Commissioner are vacant. The current Additional Municipal Commissioner is overloaded with work. Four Deputy Municipal Commissioners were appointed by the State Government seven days ago. They are reportedly lobbying to get a ‘cream’ department. Their departments have still not been decided.

The then Additional Municipal Commissioners Ravindra Binwade and Vikas Dhakne were transferred. Their positions are still vacant. Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj BP is overloaded with work. There are 18 Deputy Municipal Commissioners’ posts in the PMC. Nine posts are filled by the civic body while the remaining nine are appointed by the State Government, out of which five posts are still lying vacant. Therefore, a Deputy Municipal Commissioner is handling additional charge of 2-3 other departments besides their own.

The new Deputy Municipal Commissioners appointed by the State Government are Asha Raut, Chetna Kerure, Sunil Ballal and Prashant Thombre. They are purportedly in search of a ‘cream’ department. Influence is reportedly being exercised on top civic officials from various sources for desired departments.

Sanjay Shinde transferred but not posted

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Shinde was transferred for neglecting the flood situation and hygiene at Ekta Nagar in Sinhagad Road area. However, his department has still not been decided.

Officials sit idle as floods worsen

Ekta Nagar, Sangamwadi, Yerwada, Baner and Balewadi areas were flooded. The Deputy Municipal Commissioners from the area concerned were overloaded with work. However, the four Deputy Municipal Commissioners appointed by the State Government were sitting idle in such circumstances.