E-Paper
This officer is determined to provide better civic amenities
MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER Gaya Prasad is working hard to regulate the sanitary conditions of the city which are a primary concern for the citizens. Prasad who has completed one-year-and-a-half at Allahabad Nagar Nigam shares his views on various subjects related to civic body in a tete-a-tete with Pankaj Mishra.
MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER Gaya Prasad is working hard to regulate the sanitary conditions of the city which are a primary concern for the citizens. Prasad who has completed one-year-and-a-half at Allahabad Nagar Nigam shares his views on various subjects related to civic body in a tête-à-tête with Pankaj Mishra.
Is there any improvement in the NN functioning since the District Magistrate's take-over as Administrator ?
Absolutely, the employees of the Nagar Nigam and officials are feeling completely free from unnecessary pressures mounted by the corporators and others.
Undoubtedly, the functioning of the civic body has improved and entire staff has been working in a team sprit.
What is present financial condition of the NN ?
As I took over the charge in February 2004, the NN was in deep financial crunch. However, much have been done to streamline it.
The Allahabad Nagar Nigam staff who did not get salary for nearly a year now get it on time. Salary of remaining months have been disbursed to staff. We receive Rs 1. 48 crore grant per month from the state government while Rs 2.50 crore is required for the disbursement of entire staff salary. We need Rs 3.25 crore grant per month to meet out the necessary expenses at Allahabad Nagar Nigam.
What are your priorities right now ?
Following the State Government's instruction to mobilise the financial resources my first priority is to increase revenue collection to strengthen the financial condition. Secondly my focus would be on road construction. Apart from this we have curtailed our expenses on stationary, official vehicles and various other heads.
Sanitary condition is reported to be worst in the city. Why is it so ?
Presently, NN have 1950 regular sanitary staff against the immediate need of 3300 employees. Obviously it becomes difficult to carry out cleanliness simultaneously in the entire city. But we have undertaken a drive to clean the main roads of Civil Lines area. Garbage dumped at Mahatma Gandhi Marg and Sardar Patel Marg is being removed. We will soon launch the same drive on Stanley Road and Lowther Road.
What about State Government's plan to recruit one lakh safai karmcharis to improve the sanitary condition. Have you received any order in this regard ?
I have not yet received any order to this effect. However I am doing my level best to make the city clean with the support of NN staff .
Tenders have been invited for having part time safai karmcharis on the payment of Rs 900 per month for four hours. The Allahabad Nagar Nigam has urged the 12th Finance Commission to provide funds to purchase the vehicles to lift garbage containers.
Has the NN formulated the National Urban Renewal Mission' (NURM) projects?
Not yet. As per the direction of the administrator a team of NN comprising myself will go to Hyderabad on March 1 to study the urban planning there.
The main thrust of the NURM is to develop infrastructure projects relating to water supply, sanitation, sewage and solid waste management, road network, urban transport and renovation of old city areas with a view to upgrading infrastructure there etc.
