BMC brings in DMC to lighten load of civic work

As of now, DMC V L Patankar has been chosen to be DMC (improvements) while the post of DMC, octroi and property development, will be occupied by an IAS officer, the commissioner added. Asked why S R Dange, who happens to be the seniormost DMC, was not chosen for the post of DMC (I), the Commissioner said selections to the post were not made on a seniority basis.

Civic observers have, however, seen this move as one which would only increase the establishment costs. “The municipal commissioner is keen on getting an IAS officer as DMC and has therefore mooted this proposal,” they observed.

The DMCs and ward officers of the BMC had met the commissioner last month demanding that the post of joint municipal commissioner be given to a DMC, as was done in the past. The delegation had threatened to go on mass casual leave if an IAS officer was brought in as JMC.

“The present decision just goes to show the commissioner’s keen interest in getting an IAS officer for the post,” noted civic observers. “At a time when the BMC is burdened with a huge deficit, there was no need to get two people to do the job which was formerly done by one official,” he noted.