Assets of babus taken off BMC site, reveals RTI query

Ajoy MehtaWhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have asked ministers to declare their assets the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC is singing a different tune It has overturned its own diktat of 2013 which stated details of assets of civic officials have to be uploaded on its website A Right To Information RTI query has revealed that BMC has stopped uploading these details since 2016 when Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta issued another circular about itActivists have alleged that this will benefit corrupt officials especially those working in Building Proposal Vigilance and Roads departments as they will easily be able to hide their disproportionate assets In August RTI activist Jeetendra Ghadge had filed an application seeking information regarding the filing of assets returns of class A and B officers in the civic body In reply BMC said it has stopped uploading assets details of staff on the website since 2016 following a GR issued in 2014Cancelled own diktatBMC cancelled its own diktat issued in 2013 by then additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani under which the civic body had told HODs to file assets details of all employees online On August 12 2016 it issued another circular signed by Deputy Municipal Commissioner general administration Sudhir Naik additional municipal commissioner I A Kundan and Mehta asking the General Administration Department GAD to not upload details online but to submit them to HODsGhadge said Mehta has always maintained that corrupt officials wont be spared and transparency in the system will be the main focus But this information reveals a different scenario Decision of not uploading assets returns online exposes the transparency agenda It protects corrupt officials who have disproportionate assetsI hope better sense prevails and annual assets returns of class A and B officials are uploaded again as it will act as a deterrent for corrupt employees What is more surprising is that the BMC issued a diktat two years after the state governments GR Another activist Anil Galgali said Under Maharashtra Civil Services Conduct Act 1979 all government officials are supposed to submit their assets details If this circular is implemented then all officers will be scared of being involved in illegal practices as they will be under constant watchBMC speakWhen contacted Naik said All employees are supposed to submit their assets details before HODs We never issued a circular that they be put online When asked about the circular issued in 2016 asking these details not be put up online he said I will have to check documents and only then I can comment Speaking to midday Mehta said We go by Government Resolutions GRs on such issues On administrative matters we follow state circulars and the state follows the circulars of the Government of IndiaSpeaking about the GR issued in 2014 about stopping uploading assets details of employees on the website he added It should have been implemented in 2014 itself These are larger issues and all administrative matters including pay commissions are decided by the state and central governments and the corporation follows themDid Mehta okay Kamala Mills user changeMNS leader Sandeep Deshpande alleged that the municipal commissioner had allowed a change of user of mill land for Kamala Mills after which several restaurants and pubs were opened there Deshpande also alleged the BMC had not taken action against the official from Gsouth ward who was behind the permissions granted to these eateries I will meet the CM and demand an inquiry against Mehta as he is equally responsible for this mishap said Deshpande When asked about Deshpandes allegation about change of user Mehta refused to commentCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news current affairs from Mumbai local news crime news and breaking headlines hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go