Controversial and non performing civic chief Sitaram Kunte has been transferred from the post. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday removed Sitaram Kunte as the municipal commissioner, replacing him with IAS officer Ajoy Mehta.
Kunte (batch of 1985), whose term as the BMC chief was due to end on April 30, was transferred as Principal Secretary in the Environment Department, a position held by Mehta until Sunday. In last three years’ tenure, Kunte was caught in various controversies. His first half was very good as he had scrapped a CWC contract system in the BMC and introduced e-tendering to end the cartel system of contractors in the BMC. He also tried to infuse more transparency in the civic body. However, in the second half of his tenure, he lost his control over the civic administration. Since then, he could not take a stand on right causes.
First, he drew flak from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on the issue of the dockyard building collapse, where 62 BMC employees lost their lives. In this case there was clear evidence that the building had collapsed due to the negligence of the civic body. Despite that, he could not punish any single senior civic official.
The second controversy was about the heritage list of the city’s structures. The controversy was that many dilapidated structures or already demolished structures were incorporated in the heritage list. As a result, the redevelopment of these buildings would not have been possible in the future.
After a huge protest from the residents, the state government had to stay the implementation of the heritage list and the government appointed a committee to review the same.
There was yet another controversy about the lux level of the city. Though there was a report from the IIT that the lux level of the city street was very low he didn’t accept the report and gave permission to replace the street lights. BJP corporator Amit Satam protested against his attitude for more than seven days.
The latest controversy is about the draft development plan and the Bhau Daji Lad Museum. He didn’t take a firm stand over these two issues and lost the trust of the Mumbaikar.
In Bhau Daji Lad Museum issue, he supported the Bajaj Foundation move to take over the playground and create parking for visitors over there. Local residents protested and the issue was resolved when the civic general body cancelled the agreement with the Bajaj Foundation.
In latest Dp issue he again never come forward to satisfy the Mumbaikar. There was huge protest against the DP as the Dp was going to usurp the green open space at Arrey Colony, known to be lungs of the city. On the other hand he express his view that the BMC cannot protest the open space and a second Dharavi will come up on the open space of the Aarey Colony.
In the Development Plan again, there were many errors, which Kunte never came forward to address. Nor was there an assurance that he will rectify the errors. All political parties in the BMC were very unhappy with Kunte’s performance as he could not launch any big project for Mumbai in his tenure.
The revamp of the Byculla Zoo is pending for the last six years, and he could not complete it. Even for Coastal Road, he had no proper plan. The Shiv Sena was also unhappy with Kunte over the issue of Mumbai Development Plan, and the LED street lights at Marine Drive.
According to sources, in next civic election, which is scheduled in 2017, the BJP wants to contest it solo. For that, the party wants a commissioner who can suppress the Shivsena in the civic body.
Mehta, who was MD of the state electricity distribution company for more than six years, had successfully brought reforms in the energy sector. In his tenure as MD of the state electricity distribution company, he never did any favours to the government. He always argued with the ministers over the issue of subsidy to the farmers.
