The Maharashtra government on Tuesday appointed BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal as the administrator of the civic body after his five-year term ended on Monday.
On Monday, the Maharashtra Legislature passed a bill in both the houses to amend the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act 1888, allowing the appointment of an administrator in the civic body. The Administrator will look after the administrative and financial functioning of the civic body.
Chahal has been directed to take charge immediately and all the powers of the 227 corporators will vest in him.
The last time the BMC had appointed an administrator was in 1984 when a similar situation arose of postponing elections.
A 1989 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, Chahal has served the Government of Maharashtra and India in various capacities. He was the principal secretary of the urban development department before taking over the role of BMC chief from Praveen Pardeshi in May 2020.
The newly appointed administrator said it would take a few days to “set things up”.
On the first day as administrator, Chahal chaired a special meeting with additional commissioners, deputy municipal commissioners and department heads in the BMC to take stock of the monsoon preparedness and directed various departments to work on time.
The road department has been given a deadline of May 15, before which the work is to be completed and BEST has been asked to be vigilant regarding power supply during rains.
Besides this, the BMC administrator also directed the civic body to coordinate with the MMRDA regarding the ongoing metro work as well as monsoon and waterlogging.
Updates will be given from time to time regarding other works including silt removal from rainy drains, management at waterlogged places, pruning of trees for monsoon.
“The term of the 227 councilors elected in 2017 will end on the midnight of March 7. Councilors will not hold offices such as Standing Committee, Reform Committee, Chairpersons of Law Committee, Ward Committees and Mayor’s Tree Authority Office. Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani, in-charge of the municipal election department, said on Monday.
After the 2017 elections, 227 corporators held their first general assembly meeting on March 8, 2017. The first meeting of these corporators was held on March 8, 2017, who will now be known as former corporators.
All committees including the statutory standing committee as well as the reforms and legislation committees will cease to exist.
BMC officials said the administrator may appoint a committee of four additional commissioners to assist. There will be no change in the tabling proposals. Like the 27-member standing committee meeting, each department head will present the matter to the administrator and the deputy municipal commissioner and ward officers concerned will be invited. The Administrator shall have the deciding voice in approving a proposal.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.