Mumbai: Chief engineer's note said road quality was not his responsibility

Sensing that the net was closing in on those involved in the road scam, BMC's former chief engineer for roads tried to cover his tracks with an obvious ploy - he issued a circular declaring that road quality was not his responsibility. Today, as he sits behind bars, the circular has landed him in even deeper trouble.

This information came to light on Wednesday, when the BMC filed its inquiry report on former Road Department chief engineer Ashok Pawar, a week after he was arrested in connection with the road scam.

Former chief engineer Ashok Pawar, seen here (in stripes) inspecting a road along with Mayor Snehal Ambekar. File pic

Suspicious timing
The brouhaha over the road scam started last year, after the Mayor wrote to the municipal commissioner about the corruption in the last week of September. Days later, Pawar tried to absolve himself of any responsibility with a circular on October 10, declaring that road works was the responsibility of the sub engineer, assistant engineer, executive engineer and deputy chief engineers - essentially anyone but the chief engineer of the roads department.

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This, even though BMC top boss Ajoy Mehta had already issued an order directly stating that the chief engineer of the Roads Department would be responsible for the quality of roads in the city (dated August 29, 2015).

"Unless the person is directly or indirectly involved in irregularities, why would he counter the commissioner's circular in such a way? There is a clear link. He must have at least been aware of what was happening in the department and tried to save his own skin. And if he was directly involved, this was his way of making sure the noose never tightens around him," said a civic official.

Another official recounted the time Pawar's circular came out. "I remember the commissioner was annoyed. He wrote a remark on the same circular asking, ‘Then what is the chief engineer's responsibility?' But even then, neither him, nor any other civic official revoked the provision in the months to come. Technically, it is still in effect."

The BMC has alleged that Pawar's circular did not have the approval of the commissioner, additional commissioner or Director (ES&P).

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Anyway, Pawar's barefaced attempt to wriggle out of trouble didn't work, and once the BMC had completed its inquiry into the road scam, he was suspended in April. Soon after his suspension, Pawar moved the Bombay High Court, stating that he had been suspended without a reason. In June, the HC gave the BMC a month to spell out charges against him, after which the civic body began to prepare an inquiry report on Pawar's role. This report was served to him in jail on Wednesday, and Pawar now has 10 days to respond to the charges, including the allegation that he did things without sincerity or efficiency and had no control over the way road works were done.

The BMC has six months to conduct a departmental inquiry against Pawar. Following that, the inquiry committee will give a verdict.