‘I know how to keep city clean’
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/201107132011071303043195052d5ce3a/%E2%80%98I-know-how-to-keep-city-clean%E2%80%99.html
While Amdavadis take pride in the BRTS, riverfront project, booming real estate and premier institutes, it just takes a garbage pile on a busy crossroad for them to blush helplessly. However, the new Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra, in an exclusive interview with Mirror, has promised to make cleanliness his top priority and empower Amdavadis with a sense of
civic pride.
Guruprasad Mohapatra says Amdavadis can meet him between 11 am and 2 pm without taking an appointment. He assures he is ‘always there’ to solve people’s problems
“There is no doubt that there is a lot to be done to spruce up the city. But I think I know how to keep Ahmedabad clean as I have been the municipal commissioner of a city that was once ranked the second cleanest in the country,” said Mohapatra, who was the commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation from 1999 to 2002.
An IAS officer of 1986 batch, Mohapatra is a batchmate and a “good friend” of his predecessor
I P Gautam. Before taking over as Ahmedabad municipal commissioner, Mohapatra was the Commissioner of Commercial Tax at Rajya Kar Bhavan for a year. He holds an MBA, a Masters in International Relations and a doctorate in Change Management.
MONSOON PLAN FIRST PRIORITY
“My first priority is to effectively implement the monsoon plans. It is not a good idea for someone to take up the job of a civic chief during monsoon, but work is work and you cannot compromise on that. I have asked the officers to prepare a presentation on the monsoon plan they have drafted so that we can plug all loopholes and find ways to mitigate people’s woes,” he said.
CHALLENGING WORK
He says there are several “gaps in the infrastructure plans”, not to mention a good number of incomplete projects. “Ahmedabad is a growing city. People from across the country have made the city their home, lending it a cosmopolitan identity. However, there are several capital works schemes that need to be completed on time. I will be taking help of the officers to find out what are the problems that plague the city the most besides cleanliness,” he said.
STICKING TO DEADLINES
“I will have to ensure that any work undertaken meets the deadline and is completed properly. Neither delay nor shoddy work will be tolerated. AMC will strive to solve people’s problems. It cannot afford to annoy people,” he said. Mohapatra believes that he looks forward to be part of a “great team” that works towards speedy execution of civic projects and responds effectively to people’s woes.
He will also be hearing out the problems of Amdavadis who can meet him between 11 am and 2 pm.
“They don’t need to take an appointment. I shall patiently listen to them and make sure their problems are solved.”
Mohapatra is “all the more confident” of putting his plans into action since he has worked with M S Patel and I K Patel, deputy municipal commissioners of south and central zone respectively.
“Everytime there is a change, it brings challenges and opportunities with it. I am looking forward to doing my best,” he said.
FLYOVERS IN SURAT
Mayor Asit Vora and standing committee chairman Bhupendra Patel greeted Mohapatra in his new office on Tuesday
During his tenure as Surat civic chief, he visited the US and was surprised to find how flyovers eased traffic snarls and helped in effective traffic management. When he came back to Surat after the visit, he asked the Indian Road Congress (IRC) to study Surat’s traffic patterns and come up with a feasibility report on construction of flyovers.
It was during his tenure that the city got two flyovers. He was also sent to Surat in 2006 as officer on special duty, assigned with the task of tackling flood situation.
Mohapatra has also served as commissioner of Vadodara Municipal Corporation for a period of five months. Besides, he has also worked as district development officer of Surendranagar and collector of Junagadh and Rajkot. His wife Anjali works in a private firm and sons Diptiman and Jimutbaran study in class XII and class X respectively.
While Amdavadis take pride in the BRTS, riverfront project, booming real estate and premier institutes, it just takes a garbage pile on a busy crossroad for them to blush helplessly. However, the new Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra, in an exclusive interview with Mirror, has promised to make cleanliness his top priority and empower Amdavadis with a sense of
civic pride.
Guruprasad Mohapatra says Amdavadis can meet him between 11 am and 2 pm without taking an appointment. He assures he is ‘always there’ to solve people’s problems
“There is no doubt that there is a lot to be done to spruce up the city. But I think I know how to keep Ahmedabad clean as I have been the municipal commissioner of a city that was once ranked the second cleanest in the country,” said Mohapatra, who was the commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation from 1999 to 2002.
An IAS officer of 1986 batch, Mohapatra is a batchmate and a “good friend” of his predecessor
I P Gautam. Before taking over as Ahmedabad municipal commissioner, Mohapatra was the Commissioner of Commercial Tax at Rajya Kar Bhavan for a year. He holds an MBA, a Masters in International Relations and a doctorate in Change Management.
MONSOON PLAN FIRST PRIORITY
“My first priority is to effectively implement the monsoon plans. It is not a good idea for someone to take up the job of a civic chief during monsoon, but work is work and you cannot compromise on that. I have asked the officers to prepare a presentation on the monsoon plan they have drafted so that we can plug all loopholes and find ways to mitigate people’s woes,” he said.
CHALLENGING WORK
He says there are several “gaps in the infrastructure plans”, not to mention a good number of incomplete projects. “Ahmedabad is a growing city. People from across the country have made the city their home, lending it a cosmopolitan identity. However, there are several capital works schemes that need to be completed on time. I will be taking help of the officers to find out what are the problems that plague the city the most besides cleanliness,” he said.
STICKING TO DEADLINES
“I will have to ensure that any work undertaken meets the deadline and is completed properly. Neither delay nor shoddy work will be tolerated. AMC will strive to solve people’s problems. It cannot afford to annoy people,” he said. Mohapatra believes that he looks forward to be part of a “great team” that works towards speedy execution of civic projects and responds effectively to people’s woes.
He will also be hearing out the problems of Amdavadis who can meet him between 11 am and 2 pm.
“They don’t need to take an appointment. I shall patiently listen to them and make sure their problems are solved.”
Mohapatra is “all the more confident” of putting his plans into action since he has worked with M S Patel and I K Patel, deputy municipal commissioners of south and central zone respectively.
“Everytime there is a change, it brings challenges and opportunities with it. I am looking forward to doing my best,” he said.
FLYOVERS IN SURAT
Mayor Asit Vora and standing committee chairman Bhupendra Patel greeted Mohapatra in his new office on Tuesday
During his tenure as Surat civic chief, he visited the US and was surprised to find how flyovers eased traffic snarls and helped in effective traffic management. When he came back to Surat after the visit, he asked the Indian Road Congress (IRC) to study Surat’s traffic patterns and come up with a feasibility report on construction of flyovers.
It was during his tenure that the city got two flyovers. He was also sent to Surat in 2006 as officer on special duty, assigned with the task of tackling flood situation.
Mohapatra has also served as commissioner of Vadodara Municipal Corporation for a period of five months. Besides, he has also worked as district development officer of Surendranagar and collector of Junagadh and Rajkot. His wife Anjali works in a private firm and sons Diptiman and Jimutbaran study in class XII and class X respectively.
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