Pune: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders finally succeeded in having Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) Chairman and Managing Director Tukaram Mundhe transferred.
On Wednesday, the State government announced its decision to transfer him to Nashik as Municipal Commissioner. Abhishek Krishna, the current Commissioner of Nashik has been transferred to Mumbai as Joint Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).
Mundhe, who took charge as PMPML Chief in March last year, faced frequent opposition from corporators of ruling BJP as well as Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The leaders from these parties were unhappy with Mundhe’s style of functioning. Insiders say due to this, before even completing a year as CMD, State government took a decision to transfer Mundhe.
The insiders say this decision was taken due to increasing pressure from corporators of Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and also from workers’ union of PMPML.
According to sources, Mundhe’s growing unpopularity was the result of his stern action against workers for showing lethargy and dereliction of duty. During his tenure at PMPML, he suspended many officers.
However, refuting allegations of BJP’s role in transferring Mundhe, Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak said, “We never demanded his transfer. We had only taken objection to his working style. He was a good officer.”
Similarly, the State government has also transferred Additional Municipal Commissioner Prerna Deshbhratar. She has been given a new charge as Deputy Secretary of Social Justice Department in Mantralaya. She had raised objection to tenders of 24x7 water supply projects during the Estimate Committee meeting. It is said that due to this, the project was delayed. Insiders say Deshbhratar’s decision irked Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar. The corporators also blamed her for taking too much time in clearing files and raising queries.
In July last year, on the reasons of disrespect shown towards elected representatives and for acting arbitrarily, city’s local representatives had unanimously passed a resolution against Mundhe. Similarly, City Mayor Mukta Tilak, Standing Committee Chairman Murli Mohal and other party leaders had sent a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, no decision was taken at that time. It seems only after 11 months, Fadnavis took serious cognisance of the objections raised by local representatives and transferred Mundhe.
On his first day, Mundhe paid a surprised visit to PMPML. He immediately ordered increase in office timing and implemented a mandatory dress code. His surprise visits created an uproar among the staff members. During his 11 months’ tenure, Mundhe suspended nine officials and transferred 70 employees. Due to this, many workers turned against him.
He also restricted corporators from taking part in the election of different committees of PMPML
