PMC officers shy away from their duties

Recently I sent some photographs to some senior Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officers. It was evident from the photographs that some buildings have come up by encroaching upon the nalla in a prime location of Pune city .After sending photographs I called some officers and gave them the exact location of the encroachment. I thought they would act on their own.  However, nothing happened. Then once again, I called one officer and asked about what action they have taken. He said he would send his officers to look in to the matter.

After few days once again I called up that officer and asked what was the situation? . he bluntly said. Sir, please give an application mentioning your complaint so that we could move forward. I said, why should I give the complaint? . Isn't it your responsibility? I have given you photographs and exact location. From photographs it is evident that nalla has been encroached upon. You are duty bound to take action .Then why you need my complaint? . He had no answer.

It is my experience that PMC officers always try to hide behind someone. They don't dare to take action on wrongdoers. Hands in gloves with wrong doers may be the reason behind that. As real estate, prices are escalating sky high. Developers do not bother to encroach upon anything. Property buyers are always ignorant about this. They think that as the authority has given the permission everything must be legal, just, and safe. In addition, officer like in this case put in danger lives of innocent people. 

Housing society gladiators, fight on wrong battlegrounds

After amendment to cooperative housing society Act, lot of people asked me several questions. Most of the questions were related to their own society. From the questions they asked, it was clear that most of them wanted to settle score with somebody. There are always some issues in the every cooperative housing society. Many society members behave like gladiators. They treat committee members as personal servants. As well, some committee members also behave as if society is their personal kingdom. Allegations of misbehaviour, malpractices and corruption on committee members are common everywhere.

However, on the background of amendments in co-operative housing society act (CHS), as per 97th ammendment to the constitution of India. Henceforth handling CHS is going to be more difficult. As per new amendments, there is provision of penalizing committee members and also there is a provision of cessation of membership on some default. General body of the society may prescribe penalties to the member for different breaches of the byelaws of the society. In addition, there are provisions of penalty to the committee members for consistent defaults, acting against the interest of the institution, deadlock in the board of directors, not ordering elections within specified time, corruption, irregularities in duty, deliberately giving false information, disobeying orders of authorities etc etc.

Most important fact is, as the real estate scenario is changing fast and property rates are going high. There is lot of possibility of misuse of provisions from both the sides. Committee members may use their power to harass society members, As well; society members may also threaten committee members on pity issues. This is not a forecast, such incidences are happening in the cities already.

However, it is not the case that intention behind every such incidence is to grab the property or to teach lesson to committee members. Many times the concerned people are not aware of where to peruse his/her case. Hence, some times, for issues like irregular supply of water from local authority people hold committee members responsible. That means they choose wrong battleground to fight. However, what is the solution? I do not know how much it will be effective but, I guess frequent awareness campaigns in every housing society for member's rights and duties may reduce such menace.