Pune: In a concerning development for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), two of its three Additional Commissioner positions have remained vacant for nearly six months, putting immense pressure on the administration.
This situation arose after the transfer of officials before the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. Despite multiple key projects and routine operations requiring oversight, no appointments have been made to fill these critical roles, raising questions about the government's efficiency and intent.
The Lok Sabha elections, held from April to June, led to the transfer of several senior officers, including the PMC Commissioner and three Additional Commissioners.
While Dr. Rajendra Bhosale was appointed as the new Municipal Commissioner, and Prithviraj B.P. took one of the vacant Additional Commissioner positions, the other two posts remain unfilled.
This prolonged vacancy has resulted in Prithviraj B.P. handling the responsibilities of all departments within the PMC, a situation that has strained the city's governance.
Departments dealing with essential issues such as flood management, pothole repairs, land acquisition for infrastructure projects, property tax collection, sanitation drives, staff transfers, and daily operational duties in the education and health sectors are all being managed by a single officer.
The lack of administrative bandwidth has slowed the pace of decision-making and implementation, leading to inefficiencies.
Additionally, the pressure on Prithviraj B.P. extends to attending high-profile visits from national leaders like the President and Prime Minister, further complicating his workload. The absence of senior officials has made it difficult for citizens to access and engage with the city's administration.
The continued delay in filling these positions has sparked discussions within administrative circles. Many are questioning the government's lack of urgency in addressing these vacancies, especially when Pune is facing growing infrastructural and governance challenges.
With major projects announced for the city worth crores of rupees, the absence of senior officials to oversee their execution has cast doubt on the government’s commitment to these initiatives.
