Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'An attempt being made to make Navi Mumbai Plastic-free' that was published in Newsband

An attempt being made to make Navi Mumbai Plastic-free

In order to form Plastic-free Navi Mumbai, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, under the guidance of municipal commissioner Annasaheb Misal, is creating awareness among the city residents about usefulness of using cloth or paper bags instead of plastic bags. Thus NMMC is carrying out in a big way a campaign to ban plastic in city.  

Such kind of campaign was carried out in Ghansoli under the control of waste management department’s deputy commissioner Tushar Pawar and zone 2’s deputy commissioner Dr Amrish Patnigire. The campaign was carried out by assistant commissioner Dattatray Nagre, cleanliness officer Vinayak Juikar and cleanliness inspector and deputy inspectors. Two shopkeepers were fined Rs 5000 each for using plastic bags and thus total fine amount of Rs 10000 was collected. Fine amount of Rs 2500 was collected from the businessmen who had thrown waste at public places.

Using banned plastic is a crime and the punishment for committing this crime first time is Rs 5000, second time – Rs 10000 and third time – Rs 25000. NMMC has appealed to the city residents that they should be environment-friendly and cooperate in the matter of making Navi Mumbai city plastic-free and stop using completely the banned plastic.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Demand made to effectively implement minority related welfare schemes' that was published in Newsband

Demand made to effectively implement minority related welfare schemes

“The various minority welfare schemes which government comes up with should be implemented effectively. In the areas which have minorities as majority in Navi Mumbai, the Municipal Corporation and district administration should make available strong facilities to the minorities.” This demand was made by Maharashtra State’s Minority Commission’s president Haji Arphat Shaikh. He was speaking during the meeting organized at Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s headquarter to review Prime Minister’s 15 point program as well as the schemes of Central and State governments.

Present during this occasion were deputy mayor of NMMC Mandakini Mhtre, municipal commissioner Annasaheb Misal, leader of the house Ravindra Ithape, sports and cultural protram committee chairman Munavar Patel, garden committee chairperson Mira Patil, corporator Dr Jayaji Nath, additional commissioner Ravindra Patil and Mahavir Pedari and also Ganesh Survase and other senior officers, Navbharatiya Shivvahatuk Sanghatna’s executieve president Sharif Deshmukh and general secretary Vinajy More.

Haji Shaikh said that the schemes which are meant for minorities should reach eachi and every member of the minority community. Not a single minority person should be denied the benefit, he said. He further added, “Muslim community should get the benefit of their cemetery related roads, protective walls, street lights, water and other basic facilities. We are expecting the work on these facilities will be completed. To provide facilties to the minority organization, the district planning committee which has the pending proposal, should urgently do the needful.”

He expressed his concern about 300 students who are affected by the problems faced by Hasnad Urdu School in matter of land. He asked the corporation to cooperate in this matter. He asked to raise the qualities of not only the teachers but also the students of this school. He called for special efforts to be taken in this matter. Considering the seriousness of the situation, he personally visited the school.

Lastly, Haji Shaikh called upon the police authorities and skill development programs implementing machineries to keep trying to provide justice to the minorities. He praised the Prime Minister for coming up with various schemes for the Muslims and other minority sections. He gave many other useful suggestions and also to pursue the various proposals that municipal corporation has forwarded to the state government.

Video: Dinesh Kamath sings at Imperial Banquet Hall at Raghuleela Mall, Vashi, during function organized by Navi Mumbai Press Club

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'CIDCO Mega Housing Development Scheme' that was published in Newsband

CIDCO Mega Housing Development Scheme

In the appeal process of CIDCO Mega Housing Development Scheme 2018-19, the list of eligible and ineligible applicants was declared. This was published on CIDCO’s website www.cidc.nivarakendra.in . In fact, the applicants can personally login on My Application and click and just find out whether they are eligible or ineligible. CIDCO has permitted ineligible applicants 15 days to make an appeal. This is the last chance. Those documents which were found to have mistakes during checking or those applicants who have not submitted complete documents, such applicants are given 15 days to make an appeal. This is the last chance and those who will prove to be ineligible applicants after this, they will not be given any other chance to appeal. More than one appeal during this period will not be accepted.

The applicants can appeal on CIDCO’s website www.cidco.nivarakendra.in on 28 July 2019 at 2 pm for online booking / appointment from 30 July 2019 to 13 August 2019. The whole process will be available during office time i.e from 11 am till 5 pm.

For appeal purpose, the applicants have to come with all the documents as per the appointment. The documents will be checked fully and the decision related to eligibility will be taken and the applicants will be informed through the website. The final decision in matter of appeal will be of management (marketing-2). No appeal will be taken during any time other than the time specified by website.

For further information, call 022-62722250.

Thus one should appreciate this system worked out by CIDCO to decide the eligibility and ineligibility of the applicants for the Mega Housing Development Scheme.  

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Standing Committee approves various civic works' that was published in Newsband

Standing Committee approves various civic works

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporations various civic works proposal were put forward to NMMC’s Standing Committee by municipal commissioner Annasaheb Misal and chairman Navin Gavte gave approval to all the proposals.

The proposal includes constructing of main medical dispensary on plot no. 3 at Ghansoli Sector 9. This place will have automation and the necessary materials required for it will be called for. There is a main medical dispensary Mother Children Hospital building at Belapur too but the space here is not enough. Hence it was decided that another dispensary should come up at Ghansoli Sector 9.

Standing Committee of NMMC has also given approval to work of repairing and improving the CIDCO constructed unrepaired gutters at Belapur ward Sector 44, Nerul.

Approval was also given to work of concretization of main roads from Vinamra Swarajya Hospital at Vashi Sector 11 to Rishabh Society at Vashi Sector 9. This place has schools, colleges, hospitals and gardens in big number. This will give relief to both pedestrians and vehicle drivers.

Lastly, approval was given to the work of improving and decorating of Dharmavir Sambhaji garden/playground and nearby open spaces at Vashi Sector 9.

So these are the variety of civic works to which NMMC standing committee has given green signal too. That’s really great!

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Bhayander) Metro Route given green signal' that was published in Newsband

Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Bhayander) Metro Route given green signal

Picture: MP Rajan Vichare thanks CM Devendra Fadnavis for sanctioning Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Bhayander) metro route

Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk Metro no. 10 got the nod from state cabinet board and hence MP Rajan Vichare expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

MP Rajan Vichare had been trying hard to make the journey of residents of his Loksabha constitueny as pleasant as possible. So while the work on Wadala-Thane-Kasarwadavli Metro Route was in progress, he asked the chief minister to join the metro route from Kasarwadavli to Dahisar-Bhayander metro route. This he had been trying since June 2015. He discussed this issue on the floor of Lok Sabha. He then made a demand to Mumbai Mahanagar Regional Development authorities to joing Kasarwadavli metro to Bhayander metro. MMRDA presented a DPR of nine kilometer distance metro route from Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk to the state government. This issue was pending with the government for a long time.

During the parliament session, on the floor of Lok Sabha, MP Rajan Vichare made an appeal to the central government to get the state government to sanction the DPR related to Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk metro route. Immediately on the very next day, state government took action and the state ministers cabinet sanctioned along with Wadala to CST metro no. 11 and Kalyan to Taloja metro no. 12, also Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Bhayander) metro no. 10. Rajan Vichare thanked CM and thus once again became the hero of the residents of his Lok Sabha constituency.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'NMMC takes precautions against spread of rain related ailments' that was published in Newsband

NMMC takes precautions against spread of rain related ailments

The rainy season can cause ailments like malaria and dengue. Hence Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s Health Department had been taking precautionary measures in this direction right since pre-monsoon days. NMMC took steps like searching for and destroying the habitats of mosquitoes, by spraying insecticides in the gutters etc. This is being done regularly especially at sensitive regions.

The government, in fact, has come up with National Pest related diseases control campaign where awareness is made among the residents about malaria and dengue. Pamphlets related to this are distributed. Posters and banners about the ailments are put up. People are educated in these matters. In fact, in the months of June and July, 110 public awareness camps were conducted in 48 schools with the help of students and teachers. There were rallies carried out to create awareness among the city residents. Training related to this was imparted to seventh and eighth standard students of 56 schools.

There is need for city residents too to cooperate with authorities to ensure that there is no spread of ailments like dengue and malaria by taking proper steps in that direction. Scrap materials, empty bottles, paint boxes, tyres etc, materials should not be kept near the residences and they should be destroyed. NMMC has come up with a long list of Do’s and Don’ts for the city residents to follow in order to avoid being affected by monsoon related ailments especially during the peak of monsoon season.

The residents are told to have check up and treatments with the help of health workers at any municipal hospitals and dispensaries. In fact, NMMC is offering free blood check ups of those patients who are affected by the ailments. The residents are also told to keep the houses, offices and surroundings clean and free from accumulation of water and thus prevent ailments like dengue and malaria. They have also been told to inform NMMC in case they come across patients suffering from the same ailments.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Nerul to Bhaucha Dhakka will be 30 minutes journey by waterway' that was published in Newsband

Nerul to Bhaucha Dhakka will be 30 minutes journey by waterway

Owing to rise in population in Navi Mumbai and in order to lessen the pollution in the city, a desperate attempt was made by MP Rajan Vichare to introduce waterway vehicle here. A masterplan of this vehicle was being done from 2015 and on 28 July 2016, the masterplan was presented to Central Minister Nitin Gadkari who gave green signal to this project.

The first phase was Vasai, Thane, Kalyan and second phase Thane to Mumbai and Thane to Navi Mumbai. 10 jettys were to come up at following places: Kalwa, Vitava, Mithambar, Airoli, Vashi, Trombay, Elephanta, Ferry wharf, gateway of India here. From Thane to Navi Mumbai, eight places would get jettys. These places were Vashi, Nerul, Belapur, Taloja, Juigaon, Panvel, JNPT and Mora. This proposal got acceptance on 24 October 2018.

MP Rajan Vichare followed up the matter with Maharashtra Matitime Board’s then chief executive officer Atul Patne and got the work of implementation of the project start at once. The last date to complete this work was fixed as 3 April 2020. It was CIDCO’s officers who gave this assurance to MP Rajan Vichare.

For the jetty projects, CIDCO was prepared to contribute 111 crores rupees. This project would be in two parts with both waterway and roadway. It would have parking facilities. There would be terminal building. There would also be waiting room, ticket window, food court etc. bus arrangements would also be there. The commuters by boat would be 40000 in number per day. The journey from Nerul to Bhaucha Dhakka would be 30 minutes and Mandwa to Alibag – one hour. This will prove to be a great boon to Navi Mumbaikars.

Chief engineer Keshav Warkhedkar and MP Rajan Vichare have corresponded to the concerned authorities to finish the work on this project at the earliest.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Preparation for Cleanliness Survey 2020' that was published in Newsband

Preparation for Cleanliness Survey 2020

“Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’ has been maintaining their top position in the Cleanliness Survey that takes place every year. This year, in the Cleanliness Survey 2020, Navi Mumbai should occupy one of the top three positions. We should keep this goal in mind and play our role accordingly,” said NMMC Commissioner Annasaheb Misal while addressing the municipal officers and workers. He was speaking at NMMC headquarter’s Gyankendra while gathering from his people the information related to Cleanliness Survey 2020. He held a dialogue with related officers and workers.

Present during this event were additional commissioner Mahavir Pendari, waste management deputy commissioner Tushar Pawar, zone 2’s deputy commissioner Dadasaheb Chabukswar, assistant commissioners of all the departments, ward officers, executive engineers, deputy engineers, branch and junior engineers and also cleanliness officers, cleanliness inspectors and deputy inspectors.

During this meeting, municipal commissioner expressed how impressed he was by the way the public representatives, officers, workers and city residents unitedly work to make the city excel at national level in matter of cleanliness. He asked those present during the event to come up with same kind of performance in the next competition too. He told them to pay attention to not only urban areas but also Gaothan and hutment areas.

The municipal commissioner advised his people to find ways and means to improve their method of maintaining cleanliness in the day to day basis. A great focus was applied in preparing for ODF Plus related Survey.

He concluded by saying that Cleanliness of City is not just our responsibility but also it is necessary for maintaining social health. Cleanliness should be a habit and awareness about it should be created all around. Every citizen of Navi Mumbai should make his or her best contributions to make Navi Mumbai the cleanest city in Navi Mumbai.

Video: Dinesh Kamath sings 'Jaadu Bhari Ankhon wali suno'

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Navi Mumbaikars to get many useful civic facilities' that was published in Newsband

Navi Mumbaikars to get many useful civic facilities

By Dinesh Kamath

Picture of NMMC

Proposals for various works related to civic facilities have been accepted during Standing Committee Meeting. Municipal Commissioner Annasaheb Misal had put forward various proposals for work on various civic facilities and these have been accepted under the presidentship of Navin Gavte.

Among the sanctioned works include the hospital facility at Koparkhairane. In the plot owned by M. Nuclear Health Care Ltd. at Sector 23, plot no. 4/1A, it is intended to come up with Kolarkhairane Mother Child Hospital. The proposal to buy the building on this plot has been accepted. In this matter, along with the chairman, the members of the standing committee too had personally inspected the building. All the necessary works which needed to be done like anti-encroachment drive, doing structural audit of the building and other related works were completed. The SC members then made a suggestion to provide the residents of that place the important hospital facilities. This move will lead to eliminating the medical problems which the Koparkhairane residents had been facing.

Similarly, at Juinagar Sector 23, ploy no. 67, on the 234.30 sq m area plot, there is need to repair the dilapidated old asbestos shed of grampanchayat period. Mayor Jaywant Sutar made a suggestion to destroy that structure and in its place provide a new multi-purpose buildings for various uses to the residents of that region. The mayor has also agreed to contribute Rs 50 lakhs from the Mayor Fund. Now that the standing committee has accepted the proposal for constructing of multi-purpose building, the residents over there will have a right place to hold various types of events or programs, big or small.  

The next is the fish market at Diwale village. This place is in horrible condition and after considering the problems faced by shopkeepers and residents, the proposal for constructing a fish market was accepted. The market is in very bad state and the place over there is not enough for the fish-sellers owing to which they have to sit outside on the road to sell their products. The stink that emanates from this place is unbearable. Hence a shed like structure which will serve as fish market will be constructed at that place and this will provide relief to the fish sellers, customers and also the residents over there.  

There is no doubt about the fact that Standing Committee of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has done an excellent job by accepting many proposals of providing very useful civic facilities to residents of Navi Mumbai.  

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Petrol-Diesel price issue in Navi Mumbai' that was published in Newsband

Petrol-Diesel price issue in Navi Mumbai

Price of Petrol-Diesel in Navi Mumbai is more than that outside the city. Navi Mumbai’s Petrol-Diesel Dealers Delegation met MLA Manda Mhatre at her residence and requested her to cancel the tax imposed on petrol and diesel in Navi Mumbai since that will bring down the price of petrol and diesel.

MLA Manda Mhatre gathered the entire report related to petrol and diesel by discussing this issue with State’s Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s special duty officer Jalota and promised the petrol and diesel dealers delegation that she would soon meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and get the problem totally solved.  

During the meeting, MLA Manda Mhatre came up with important facts. Owing to the introduction of GST by Indian Government, various types of taxes have come under One Type of Tax. But the tax on petrol and diesel is still existing. Owing to this, there is a difference in price of petrol and diesel in Navi Mumbai as compared to entire rest of Maharashtra. To lay strong foundations to 35 bridges in Mumbai, Thane Bypass bridge and Navi Mumbai bypass bridge which were constructed 20 years back, one percent tax and 3% additional VAT Cess were imposed. Hence the price of petrol and diesel in the neighbouring regions of Navi Mumbai is less. Currently, the price of petrol outside Navi Mumbai is Rs 78.61 (25* VAT Cess) and diesel Rs 68.07 (21% VAT Cess) while the price of petrol in Navi Mumbai is Rs 79 (26% VAT Cess) and diesel Rs 69.55 (24% VAT Cess). In order to strengthen foundations of the bridge in Navi Mumbai, additional tax in the name of Toll is being collected in Navi Mumbai. The people of Navi Mumbai have to pay more than their counterparts outside the city for both petrol and diesel. This is totally unfair and unjust. Only if the additional tax imposed on petrol and diesel in Navi Mumbai is cancelled, and the price of petrol and diesel becomes same as that outside the city, then justice will have been done to the residents of Navi Mumbai and they will get relief.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'The NMMC Commissioner promises more quality civic facilities to Navi Mumbaikars' that was published in Newsband

The NMMC Commissioner promises more quality civic facilities to Navi Mumbaikars

MIDC’s joint chief executive officer Annasaheb Misal took over the post of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner from out-going Municipal Commissioner Dr Ramaswami N.

Misal has done MSc from Marthawada Agriculture University and MA in public policy and management at Institute of Social Studies at Hague in Netherlands. He belongs to the 2003 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS).  

Before serving MIDC, Misal has worked as additional collector – Mumbai city, deputy commissioner (revenue) – Konkan division, deputy secretary – help and rehabilitation department, stamp duty superintendent Mumbai, chief officer – hutment development board, chief officer – Mumbai housing development board (MHADA), chief executive officer Raigad, collector Dhule etc. He excelled at every office.

He has many achievements to his credit like Mumbai division tax campaign, Mumbai stamp duty and registration law implementation, Mumbai stamp act law campaign formation, Maharashtra state’s villages’ rehabilitation, protection along Konkan coast, environment protection, hutment development in Mumbai, as MHADA’s chief officer doing special work in town housing development, computer lottery for the residents, cleanliness campaign at Raigad district council and providing the place many civic facilities, excellent work related to water related scheme as Dhule collector etc. He is known as Action Taking Administrative Officer.

While assuming the post of NMMC Commissioner he promised to do a good job for Navi Mumbai residents by taking into confidence the office bearers, public representatives, officers, workers and all others. He also promised to give priority to provide more quality civic facilities to the city of Navi Mumbai which is already known as advanced city and seventh ranked in the country in the matter of cleanliness.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'New NMMC Commissioner for Navi Mumbai' that was published in Newsband

New NMMC Commissioner for Navi Mumbai

(Above) New NMMC Commissioner A B Misal

(Above) Former NMMC Commissioner Dr Ramaswamy N

A B Misal is the new commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. He comes in the place of former NMMC commissioner Dr Ramaswamy N.

Dr Ramaswamy N has left behind an example to follow for the future NMMC commissioners. He did his job perfectly, promptly and without hurting the sentiments of those who were working under him. In other words he was a thorough diplomat. And that is what the IAS officers are expected to be.

What is IAS? It is Indian Administrative Service which means it is all about administration. These IAS officers have a lot of knowledge about administration which even the politicians under whom they have to work don’t have. The politicians have to depend heavily on these IAS officers even when it comes to applying the basics of administration.

In a democratic system we have the political leaders on one side and secretariat on the other. Those in secretariat are totally informed about what administration is. In fact, they know A-Z about administration. The political leaders are just persons who are supposed to be administrators by virtue of their being popular owing to which the public voted them to power and made them sit in Parliament or Legislative Assembly or Municipal Council or Municipal Corporation and asked them to look after the nation.

But who are the actual people who are conversant about how a nation should be looked after? The answer is IAS Officers in the Secretariat! They do all the ground works and these elected public representatives take all the credits.

There should be a clause in our Book on Constitution where the elected people’s representatives should undergo a course in Administration matters so that they don’t have to rely so very heavily upon the Secretariat. After all, people expect these public representatives to do the administrative works. Most of the people are unaware of the fact that the Secretariat does a bulk of the administration works.

Coming back to Navi Mumbai. Tukaram Mundhe was the NMMC Commissioner who was succeeded by Dr Ramaswamy N. Now Mundhe was the man who made his own decisions and policies and wouldn’t pay heed to the opinions of the public representatives. Yes, we sometimes find such IAS officers who do their job in a way they think is right. But such IAS officers are rarely liked by the public representatives who will go to any extent to get him replaced by a ‘Yes, Minister!’ type of IAS officers. We had Sheshan as Election Commissioner who did what he thought was right. This man was loved by the public but hated by most public representatives.

So now we will have to wait and see as to which category the new NMMC Commissioner belongs to. Will he go about with his own decisions and policies or will he go by the dictates of the public representatives? In other words, he has to choose between functioning like Tukaram Mundhe or like Dr. Ramaswamy N. But remember one thing: a person like Tukaram Mundhe is rarely found.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Tree Plantation and Anti-Plastic Drive' that was published in Newsband

Tree Plantation and Anti-Plastic Drive

Under the guidance of municipal commissioner of Navi Mumbai Dr Ramaswami N, a campaign against plastic was carried out in the city. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Pollution Board jointly carried out the campaign at Nerul’s Reliance Mart, Shivaji Nagar and other parts by confiscating 400 kg of plactic and imposing fine of Rs 10000. At Bikaner, Nerul, 11 kgm of plastic bags were confiscated and Rs 5000 fine amount was imposed. The campaign was carried out under the control of Nerul’s ward officer Sanjay Tayade and in the presence of inspector Jayashri Adal, deputy cleanliness inspector Ajit Tandel, Virendar Pawar, Bhushan Sutar, and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s officers and workers.

Another interesting happening in Navi Mumbai was the celebration of Guru Pournima by carrying out a tree plantation campaign again under the guidance of municipal commissioner of Navi Mumbai Dr Ramaswami N. The plantation was carried out at Jewel of Navi Mumbai.  

The event was organized by NMMC’s garden department and those who participated included municipal commissioner Dr Ramaswami N, additional commissioner Ravindra Patil and Mahavir Pendari, administration department deputy commissioner Kiranraj Yadav, chief accounts and finance officer Dhanraj Garad, chief accounts examiner Dayanand Nimkar, city engineer Surendra Patil, assistant director townplanning Ovesh Momin, garden department’s deputy commissioner Nitin Kale, zone 1’s DC Dadasaheb Chabukswar, zone 2’s DC Dr Amrish Patnigire, waste management department’s DC Tushar Pawar, etc centre’s director Varsha Bhagat, transport manager Shirish Aradwad, executive engineer Ajay Sankhye and others.

So both anti-plastic campaign and tree plantation campaign are important events considering the fact that the harm caused by use of plastic bags and cutting of trees are tremendous. The environment is being badly affected owing to these two practices that many anti-social elements are indulging in. NMMC under municipal commissioner Dr Ramaswamy N is doing yeomen service to the society by trying to protect the environment by carrying out campaigns related to anti-plastic and tree plantation. This move on the part of NMMC is bound to prove to be of great benefit to the city residents in the long run.

Dinesh Kamath's news 'MP Rajan Vichare holds meeting with senior officers of Electricity Board, to solve all electricity related problems of the city residents' that was published in Newsband

MP Rajan Vichare holds meeting with senior officers of Electricity Board

To solve all electricity related problems of the city residents

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: MP Rajan Vichare called a meeting with corporators of Airoli and Belapur at CIDCO guest house. Present for this meeting was Bhandup municipal zonal division’s chief engineer Pushpa Chavan, Navi Mumbai superintending engineer Rajesh Naik, the executive engineers of both Airoli and Belapur legislative constituencies, district chief Vitthal More, Dwarkanath Bhoir and opposition party leader Vijay Chougule. 

In this meeting MP Rajan Vichare issued an order saying that the chief engineer should find out whether the cables installed at Airoli, Rabale and Ghansoli were of good quality.

MP Rajan Vichare also said that on the two thousand square meter plot at Airoli Sector 14, all the encroachments should be removed and on that plot a new sub-station should come up over there. He has decided to hold meeting with CIDCO authorities to discuss this encroachment and sub-station issues.

When the issue related to a small boy of Ghansoli who was burnt owing to electricity shock was raised, MP Rajan Vichare asked for action to be taken against the concerned officer who was responsible for the incident and he also declared that compensation to the victim should be paid by Electricity Board. In the matter of the work of changing feeder box at Koparkhairane that was pending, the Electricity Board representatives promised to complete this work within two months.

The main electricity cable line which was not put underground at Indira Nagar’s ward no. 73 was claiming many lives. Now that the funds are made available to Electricity Board, the representative of the board has promise to take necessary action within one month.

In the matter of the overhead lines at Agroli Talav in Belapur, MP Rajan Vichare promised to obtain funds for the work of repairing the overhead lines and get the work done at the earliest.

At the end of the meeting, the ultimate Bhandup Municipal Zonal Division’s chief Engineer Pushpa Chavan called upon the residents to lodge complaint about any corrupt electricity officer or other electricity related problems over 19120.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Attempts made to solve electricity related problems in city' that was published in Newsband

Attempts made to solve electricity related problems in city

In Navi Mumbai, owing to the carelessness of Electricity Board, we constantly find the city residents facing some kind of problem or other related to electricity. Either there is constant occurrences in stoppage of electricity supply or someone receiving electric shock etx. Hence MP Rajan Vichare called a meeting with corporators of Airoli and Belapur at CIDCO guest house. Present for this meeting was Bhandup municipal zonal division’s chief engineer Pushpa Chavan, Navi Mumbai superintending engineer Rajesh Naik, the executive engineers of both Airoli and Belapur legislative constituencies, district chief Vitthal More, Dwarkanath Bhoir and opposition party leader Vijay Chougule. 

The first issue raised was about the stopping of electric supply owing to short circuit at Airoli, Rabale and Ghansoli owing to which the residents over there are not able to fill water in the morning. These residents feel greatly inconvenienced because of this. The reply given by Electricity Board representative was that the short circuit was owing to electric cables having become old. The electricity board representative was reminded that these cables were installed just three months back. The representative had to agree to that. That means he was caught lying. MP Rajan Vichare then issued an order saying that the chief engineer should find out whether the cables installed were of good quality.

The second issue was related to sub-station. After some discussion, MP Rajan Vichare concluded by saying that on the two thousand square meter plot at Airoli Sector 14, all the encroachments should be removed and on that plot a new sub-station should come up. MP Rajan Vichare asked why the electricity was supplied to the illegally encroached hutments. The reply given was that those hutments were constructed before 1995. 

Those present during the meeting also questioned as to why CIDCO which had promised to remove these encroachments in 2011 did not keep its promise. MP Rajan Vichare has decided to hold meeting with CIDCO authorities to discuss this encroachment and sub-station issues.

After that came up an interesting issue related to a small boy of Ghansoli who was burnt owing to electricity shock. This boy was given a compensation of only Rs 20000. MP Rajan Vichare asked for action to be taken against the concerned officer who was responsible for the incident and he also declared that compensation to the victim should be paid by Electricity Board. Another issue that came up was about the work of changing feeder box at Koparkhairane that was pending. The Electricity Board representatives promised to complete this work within two months.

The main electricity cable line which was not put underground at Indira Nagar’s ward no. 73 was claiming many lives. The reason why necessary action could not be taken in this matter was owing to lack of funds. But now that the funds are made available to Electricity Board, the representative of the board has promise to take necessary action within one month.

The overhead lines at Agroli Talav in Belapur is in a state where it can break and fall and cause loss of lives. Here again MP Rajan Vichare promised to obtain funds for the work of repairing the overhead lines and get the work done at the earliest.

The residents of societies complain that the Electricity Board are always short of stock of electric cables to correct the electric faults that they face owing to which these residents have to get some contractors to get the work done with their money. They also requested that all the electric cables which are thrown into the gutters should be removed out and buried underground.

At the end of the meeting, the ultimate Bhandup Municipal Zonal Division’s chief Engineer Pushpa Chavan called upon the residents to lodge complaint about any corrupt electricity officer or other electricity related problems over 19120.

So the participants in this meeting dealt on many issues related to electricity in detail. Now we will have to see whether the city residents will get total relief from all electricity related problems in the days to come. If they do get relief, only then can we say that this meeting was successful.

Dinesh Kamath's news 'Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurates new Passport Office in Vashi' that was published in Newsband

Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurates new Passport Office in Vashi

Passport Office in Vashi became reality owing to the efforts put in by MP Rajan Vichare

Still more facilities to be gifted to Navi Mumbaikars

By Dinesh Kamath

VASHI: Passport Service Centre has started in the premises of Vashi’s Post Office. The inauguration of this Centre was done by Thane District Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde. During the inauguration ceremony were present MP Rajan Vichare, Shiv Sena deputy leader Vijay Nahata, MLA Manda Mhatre, Ramesh Dada Patil, opposition party leader Vijay Chougule, district chief Vitthal More, Dwarkanath Bhoir, women front chief Ranjana Shintre, Maharashtra Circle’s chief post master general Harichandra Agrawal, Navi Mumbai’s post master general Shobha Madhale, regional passport officer Tulsidas Sharma and passport assistant officer Vishal Hiwale.

During the inauguration event, MP Rajan Vichare spoke about still more facilities which will be gifted to Navi Mumbaikars. He said that Central Government through its Fame Scheme will start 30 electric buses within the jurisdiction of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The inauguration of these buses will be done in the presence of Central Industry Minister Arvind Sawant. MP Vichare also spoke about the two storey building that will come up on the 5000 sq feet area of the post office at Airoli. He informed that the bhumi pujan of Parcel Processing Centre would also be done and the work on it would also start soon. Lastly he declared that he has contributed from his MP Funds to provide ambulance to people belonging to all the religions. 

MP Rajan Vichare specifically mentioned that whoever was in need of ambulance should contact Vashi’s NMMC Hospital and obtain it.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Passport office at Vashi for Navi Mumbaikars' that was published in Newsband

Passport office at Vashi for Navi Mumbaikars

Passport Service Centre has started in the premises of Vashi’s Post Office. The inauguration of this Centre was done by Thane District Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde. This place was booked for the Centre before the elections and the bhumi pujan of this place was also done. Three persons were appointed in this passport office. They were two postal assistant and one passport scrutinizing officer. In all, 20 persons will be called to the place for registration purpose and their work will be done. After the registration, within three or four days, their passports will be sent to them by post at their homes. The starting of Postal Passport Service Centre in Vashi, the other places like Panvel, Kalyan, Dombivali, Ambarnath will benefit too. In fact, 25 lakhs residents will benefit. Now the Navi Mumbaikars are saved the trouble of visiting Thane or Mumbai for obtaining passport.

The fact is since last many years the residents of Navi Mumbai were demanding a passport office in their city itself. The efforts along this direction were also being made. But those who were making efforts would fail to achieve success in this matter. When Rajan Vichare became the Member of Parliament, the Central External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj, on 6 July 2017, visited Thane Loksabha constituency, in Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander, and she was requested through correspondence to start a Passport Service Office in the city.

Those days, the people of Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander would have to come to Thane Passport Office for any passport related work. This consumed a lot of energy and also wasted the residents’ money. It was MP Rajan Vichare who spoke about the woes of Navi Mumbai residents to the then External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj who promptly sent to MP Rajan Vichare a letter dated 2 February 2018 saying that it was already decided to have passport offices at Pimpri, Aurangabad and Kolhapur in Maharashtra and that now 16 more places will also have passport offices and these 16 places will include Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander in the future. She specifically mentioned Vashi post office in the premises of which Vashi post office would come up. But owing to non-availability of manpower and machinery, MP Rajan Vichare, on 10 May 2019, personally met Chief Passport Officer Arun K Chaterjee and got him to start the passport office at the earliest. Thus MP Rajan Vichare at last met with success.

India is in need of such leaders like MP Rajan Vichare who, single-mindedly and with full devotion to their duties, pursue the issues which are of great public interest. This style of functioning of MP Vichare has earned him victory in the recent Lok Sabha election for the second time in succession. If he continues to play his role as MP in similar fashion even in the future, then don’t be surprised if he will bag a cabinet post at the Centre in the near future.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Observing Lokshahi Day is a good idea' that was published in Newsband

Observing Lokshahi Day is a good idea

As per Maharashtra Government orders, the Lokshahi Day should be organized by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation on the first Monday of every month.

Hence it is now decided that the Lokshahi Day of the month of August will be held on the first Monday which is 5 August 2019. Hence the applicants should forward their applications on 20 July 2019 to the Municipal Commissioner, NMMC.

The application should contain complaints / demands. The application should be concerning only one department and one subject. The application should be forwarded to the concerned office, concerned office chief.  

The application required for Lokshahi Day with proper format is available to the city residents at NMMC new headquarter building, public relation office, third floor, Sector 15A, near Kille Gaothan, CBD, Belapur. The application form is free of cost and it is also available on NMMC website www.nmmc.gov.in which can be downloaded.

Observing Lokshahi Day is a proper way to give opportunity to city residents to get their problems related to civic issue solved. It is a democratic way of letting the pubic talk for themselves and get whatever problems they have solved immediately or within the specified days. In the ancient times, the kings used to hold darbars where they would ask their subjects to narrate their problems and the king would solve those problems. Lokshahi Day event is the continuation of the same type of practice but in the modern format and in a democratic set up. So the city residents are happy about the fact that there is at least one option still open for them to get justice and that option is in the form of event that is held in the corporation on Lokshahi Day.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Every building should have fire preventing equipment installed: NMMC' that was published in Newsband

Every building should have fire preventing equipment installed: NMMC

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has warned that every residential and commercial buildings within the jurisdiction of NMMC should have a permanent fire extinguishing gadgets installed. All the city residents, business owners and commercial building owners have been asked to make note of this.

As per Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Saving Scheme Act 2006 and Act 2009, it is compulsory for every building to install fire preventing gadget and obtain license from Licensing Agency and forward the certificate to Fire Brigade Department. Accordingly NMMC did the inspection of all the buildings in Navi Mumbai and those which were found violating the fire safety rules were given notices and asked to do the necessary within 30 days.

The owners of these buildings were told that if they failed to install fire extinguishing gadget, then as per law the electric supply and water supply of those buildings would be cut off. Not only that, those violating the rules would be punished as per concerned individual/organization Act 36.

During the survey by NMMC it was found that those violating the rules included: In Vashi: 87 buildings, 15 Hotels, 1 mall, 2 schools/colleges, 7 Hospital. In CBD: 32 buildings, 10 hotels, 0 malls, 4 schools/colleges, 4 hospitals. In Nerul: 25 buildings. In Airoli: 46 buildings, 10 hotels, 4 hospitals, 1 laundry etc. In Sanpada: 102 buildings, 3 hotels, 1 mall, 5 schools/colleges, 3 hospitals and 1 laundry etc. In Koparkhairane: 208 buildings. In all: 500 buildings, 38 hotels, 2 malls, 17 schools/colleges, 18 hospitals and 4 laundries etc.

NMMC should be lauded for giving serious consideration to the idea of installing fire equipment in all the residential and commercial places. The corporation is not only issuing notices to defaulters but also implementing their threats in order to ensure that there is no structure in the city without fire equipment installed. That is really laudable!