TOI : Crusading officer feels the heat : Oct 25,2007
Crusading officer feels the heat
Yogesh Naik I TNN
Mumbai: Several octroi agents across the city are reportedly mounting pressure on the state government to get IAS officer V Radha transferred out of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), according to civic sources.
The corporation collected Rs 3,450 crore by way of octroi last fiscal and this year’s target is Rs 4,000 crore, but an official conceded that only 40% of the tax is usually collected.
With a view to plugging the leak, Radha had started cracking the whip after taking charge in June this year as joint commissioner. But top officials in the BMC, who did not wish to be named, said her campaign against corruption has angered those who mastermind octroi evasion.
The sources said threats were issued to Radha, but since they had no effect attempts are now on to get her transferred. Some sources said that money is being collected to pay politicians to get her out of the way.
When contacted, BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak said, “It is the policy of the government to support good officers. She is very good at her job. The state government, so far, has not expressed any wish to transfer her. Even the corporators have appreciated her work.’’
Suhas Nandodkar, of the Mumbai octroi agents’ federation, denied that any group of agents were collecting money to get Radha transferred. However, Nandodkar said, “Radha is very high-handed. She changes rules without giving any notice and does an incorrect valuation of our goods. Corruption is here to stay at octroi nakas, but the point I wish to convey is that there should be no harassment at the nakas.’’
Radha and her staff conducted a massive raid on octroi evaders on October 1 at the Mulund naka, where 98 trucks were impounded for evasion. Radha said such raids were necessary to streamline the working of the department.
The BMC earns 70% of its income from octroi, but Radha has told her superiors that only 40% per cent of the actual revenue is collected. “BMC officials at the octroi nakas allow concessions by pocketing the rest,’’ said an official. Radha was also upset to find that members of her own staff were hand-in-glove with evaders.]
Radha has taken on the powerful ever since joining the IAS in 1994. In Aurangabad, she crossed swords with former minister Chandrakant Khaire of the Shiv Sena. In the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), she was transferred in just two months. She had reportedly begun unearthing a scam in MSRDC toll collections.
Maharashtra chief secretary Johny Joseph said, “No one has put any pressure on the government so far to transfer Radha.’’
yogesh.naik@timesgroup.com
V Radha
Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Oct 25, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:4
URL : http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzEwLzI1I0FyMDA0MDM=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom