Mumbai : IAS officer Ajoy Mehta on Monday took charge as the 28th commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation following the transfer of his predecessor Sitaram Kunte.
The change of guard came on the heels of a raging row on the now scrapped draft Development Plan. Mehta will also be in the saddle when the civic body goes to polls.
Kunte has been relocated as Principal Secretary, Environment Department, the charge earlier handled by Mehta. Interestingly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis signed the transfer order on Sunday before leaving for a four-day visit to Israel. However, the move raised a few eyebrows as Kunte’s tenure was to end on April 30.
While talking to media after taking charge, Mehta, a 1984 batch officer, committed himself to providing quality services to Mumbaikars but refused to comment on the role he intends to play in framing the new Draft DP. He, however, assured that he is committed to preserving the culture and rich heritage of Mumbai.
Mehta admitted that it is a big responsibility he is carrying. Contacted by the Free Press Journal later, he said, “I have decided not to take any questions on my first day in office. We should wait and things will unfold.”
Mehta was the Principal Secretary, Environment Department, only for over three months, having taken charge in January 2015. Mehta drew attention while he was the Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) for 6 years. He had successfully brought reforms in the energy sector and had introduced a surplus power plan. He had also come out with a plan to recover power arrears from defaulters, the scheme which was widely followed by other states.
Mehta was earlier joint municipal commissioner in the BMC in 1998-2000. He had also served as Collector of Ahmednagar District and Municipal Commissioner of Nashik. Earlier Mehta was also the Managing Director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd. (MAHAGENCO) and Principal Secretary (Energy), Government of Maharashtra.
