Civic activists and corporators have slammed BMC chief Ajoy Mehta’s decision to transfer assistant commissioner Kishore Gandhi from the R/Central ward (Borivali). They have alleged that Mr Gandhi was being removed for taking action against illegal constructions.
The R/Central ward assistant commissioner Mr Gandhi on Thursday night was suddenly transferred to the removal of encroachment department, raising question marks over the move. Corporators from all parties barring BJP on Friday met Mr Mehta to oppose his transfer. They have also threatened to hold protests at R/Central ward office on Saturday morning.
Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre said, “It is an irony that a good administrator like Mr Gandhi has been transferred to removal of encroachment department for taking action against illegal structures. The decision has been taken under political pressure at the behest of ruling party leaders.” MNS corportor Chetan Kadam said, “There were efforts to encroach upon 7,000 ft of civic plot at Eksar area by erecting illegal shed. The construction was built by people connected to local BJP MLA. However, Mr Gandhi needs to be commended for taking action against it.”
Local civic activists are livid over BMC’s decision to transfer Mr Gandhi. Harish Pandey, member of the New Link Road Resident’s Association (NLRRA), said, “The upright and sincere officers like Mr Gandhi are being targeted for fighting corruption. The BJP had come to power with a slogan to remove corruption and now it is exactly doing the opposite.”
However, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta has refuted allegations of transferring Mr Gandhi due to political interference. “There was absolutely no political pressure. We have brought him in the encroachment removal department, where he is needed more,” he said.
This is not the first time Mr Gandhi has had to face sudden transfer due to his drive against illegal constructions. In 2014, the then commissioner Sitaram Kunte had transferred him from B ward to R/Central ward, after local corporators had protested against him.
