Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Just 2 inspectors for Nagpur's 21.43L trees, 79 gardens

Times of India: Nagpur: Tuesday, 22 July 2014.
Nagpur is one of the greenest cities in the country with over 21.43 lakh trees covering it. It also has 79 gardens, spread over 111.41 acres. Yet, Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) garden department, responsible for maintaining all this greenery, is itself in a shambles with more than 50% vacancies.
When it comes to vacant posts, situation in NMC is worst compared to other cities like Pune, Nashik and Pimpri-Chinchwad in the state. Information sought under the RTI Act by Shrikant Deshpande of Nature Conservation Association (NCA) revealed that of the total 273 sanctioned posts in NMC's garden department, 142 are vacant. The actual situation is worse. Of the working posts, over 50% is posted in other departments on deputation.
Shockingly, of the five sanctioned posts of garden inspectors for 10 zones in the city, only two are actually posted. All the 19 posts of head malis, responsible for maintaining NMC gardens are vacant. Of the 57 posts of malis, only 18 are filled. Head of the department, garden superintendent NB Shrikhande is retiring in May 2015.
On the other hand, Pune has 117 gardens and 565 posts in garden department. Of these, only 24 are vacant. In Nashik, there is a staff of 248 to maintain 400 gardens whereas in Pimpri-Chinchwad, out of the 358 sanctioned posts, 256 are working to maintain 157 gardens.
Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane admitted there were large number of vacancies in the garden department but expressed his helplessness. "I cannot fill them up as I need to curb the establishment cost which is already high at 67%," he said.
"I'm really concerned about green city status but 67% of the money goes toward salaries, pension etc and only 33% is spent on development. I have been striving to reduce establishment cost. In Pune, many posts are filled as civic body's budget is big," Wardhane added.
"A large number of vacancies in NMC's garden department is one of the prime reasons that the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of the Trees Act, 1975, is not being implemented. Almost 80% of the violations reported by alert citizens go unchecked," says Deshpande.
There are only two garden inspectors who have to cover the entire city in case of tree felling violations. They also have to perform administrative duties, plantation work, reply to RTI queries, garden and estimated works, besides take calls from corporators among other assigned duties.
Deshpande demanded that the Trees Act be amended with a statutory restriction on felling. If there are already authorized buildings in existence, it may be permitted to be developed to the extent of the area occupied by the buildings without causing any harm to the trees.
Deshpande reiterated the vacancies should be filled as these are sanctioned posts and not new ones. "As there is no staff, garden department has failed to protect city's green cover. It is virtually free for developers, builders, individuals and institutions to indulge in tree felling and escape without action. There is a statutory requirement of planting 5 trees in lieu of each felled tree but is not being followed causing huge ecological damage," Deshpande says.