Former NMMC chief to head Pune transport body

Navi Mumbai: The transfer of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, carried out on the same day the Bombay High Court refused to approve an amnesty plan for pre-2015 illegal buildings on the basis of Mr. Mundhe’s statements against the policy, has raised many questions.

RTI activist Rajiv Mishra, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against illegal buildings in Digha, Navi Mumbai, said, “I cannot challenge the State government’s decision of the transfer, but I will surely mention it in the High Court during production hour on Monday. And if the court asks me to file a fresh application, I will do that as well.”

The State government had sought the court’s permission to implement a policy to regularise all illegal buildings constructed before December 31, 2015, on payment of a penalty.

Mr. Mishra said, “The transfer is a result of an ego clash between the ruling party and the commissioner, who opposed their policy. Even as the High Court appreciated Mr. Mundhe for his opinion against the policy, the State was not happy since their draft policy was set aside. There were questions raised on how Mr. Mundhe could oppose their policy when the government had always supported him.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane, who had passed a no-confidence motion against Mr Mundhe last year, said, “I don’t see any reason to be disappointed or even happy about the transfer. Our work will go on; now it will be with another commissioner. Mr. Mundhe had a lot of attitude and ego issues. If that is kept aside, he is a good man,” he said.

Meanwhile, MNS city head Gajanan Kale couriered three transparent jars of carrots to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday as a reminder of the party’s policy of transparency. “The transfer of a non-corrupt officer, who has done so much for Navi Mumbai, proves that the BJP does not follow a transparent way of governance. He was not even allowed to finish his tenure,” Mr. Kale said. Mr. Mundhe has been given the post of Chairman and Managing Director of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal.