Mumbai: The frequent transfers of Assistant Municipal Commissioners (AMC) in the F-North ward have left local residents deeply frustrated. Nitin Shukla, who was appointed just two months ago, was transferred on Friday. This latest move has sparked outrage among the residents of Sion, Matunga, and Dadar, prompting them to launch a signature campaign calling for Shukla's reinstatement.
In a significant reshuffle, the BMC has initiated a restructuring that involves the transfer and posting of seven Joint and Deputy Municipal Commissioners, as well as the promotion and reassignment of 12 (AMCs) across the city’s 25 administrative wards.
However, the transfer of Shukla has faced strong opposition from local residents. On Saturday, the residents, along with the BMC's Municipal Engineers’ Association (MEA), launched a signature campaign to protest the move.
Payal Shah, a social worker from Sion, stated, "We want to know why such a diligent officer was transferred within just two months, despite being assigned to serve in the ward for three years. He had several important plans, such as working on the Dadar Station improvement plan, and he also took action aginst unauthorised flower vendors outside Matunga railway station. We will approach higher authorities to stop his transfer."
Transfers of ward officials in F-North ward have been frequent in recent years. The previous two officials, Chakrapani Alle and Prithviraj Chavan, didn’t even complete a year in the ward.
Nikhil Desai, a resident of Kings Circle, stated, “Civic policy clearly states that a ward officer should remain in the same post for at least three years. For instance, in H-West ward, had same official for five years before being transferred. However, in F-North, transfers are happening too casually, and it’s the citizens who suffer, having to explain the issues we face from scratch every time.”
Ramesh Bhutekar- Deshmukh, executive President, Municipal Engineers Association, said, "Shukla has been very active in the ward and had successfully made footpaths hawker-free. His transfer appears to have been done under political pressure. We have requested a meeting with Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to appeal for the withdrawal of his transfer."
Meanwhile, the H-West Ward Officer, Vinayak Vispute, who conducted inspection and the demolition at the Khar hotel where comedian Kunal Kamra performed, has also been transferred.
