Mr T C Benjamin - the new Municipal Commissioner of Pune

Mr T C Benjamin has just taken over as the Municipal Commissioner of Pune. An IAS officer belonging to the 1979 batch of the Maharashtra State, he has had a long and chequered career. He is from Ernakulam in Kerala.

Poonabest caught up with him to know what plans he has for the city. Excerpts of the Interview:

Q Could you please tell us about yourself?
A. I did my M.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Madras in '78 and followed it up with a Masters in Public Administration from Ottawa University. I joined the IAS in 1978.

Q. Can you tell us about the posts you have held during your long tenure?
A. I was the Assistant Collector of Pune, Additional Collector - Satara, Municipal Commissioner - Solapur, Director - Textiles, Collector - Nasik and my last posting was Secretary, Medical Education and Drugs, Government of Maharashtra.

Q.How did you opt for an IAS career with an engineering background?
A. The IAS is such that people with varied backgrounds can render useful service. The Engineering education imparts practical education and gives the person a practical bent of mind. I feel Engineers should join the service.

Q. What was your first reaction on being appointed Municipal Commissioner?
A. I took it as a challenge - the job of a Municipal Commissioner is a challenging assignment. The job entails solving day-to-day problems expeditely. As the Municipal Commissioner, you have to deal with the security and convenience of the public, which cannot be put off.

Q. How would  you react to the charge that illegal constructions are soon rebuilt after being demolished?
A. Any city is in a state of constant reformation. Actions taken once may not be permanent. As the city  grows, more and more developments take place. The Municipal Corporation, I agree, has to maintain a constant vigil so that illegal constructions do not increase.

Q. A fear has been expressed by experts that like in the case of Ahmedabad, where during the recent quake a number of high rise buildings collapsed, the same might be repeated in Pune if a quake strikes here - your comments?
A.  I don't think Pune is as susceptible as Ahmedabad to earthquakes. At the same time it is the responsibility of the builders as well as the Municipal Corporation, to ensure that the building safety norms are met.

The security of the building is of prime importance and we must bear in mind that the Builder, the Structural Engineer and the Architect are responsible for any lapse in the safety of the structure.

Q. What's your opinion on banning six seaters on certain city roads?
A. The general body of the Municipal Corporation has passed a resolution banning the plying of these vehicles on certain arterial roads of the city. We are in the process of implementing the ban.

Q. Many agencies including the City Traffic Police have expressed their disability on enforcing this ban - your comments?
A. The ban will cause some practical problems in implementation. We will have to think of some innovative ways so that their plying on roads is not a nuisance to other road users.

Q. Another major problem area has been the roads. We often find that a road has been repaired by the Municipal Corporation and soon after another body - the Telephone Department or some other government body has dug up the same road - to carry out some work. This causes damage to the newly laid road - your views?
A. I have to admit that I find a certain lack of coordination between the various departments. On the other hand, you must admit that a city like Pune, will have problems of constant renewal. I intend to take up this matter with the different departments for better coordination among them.

Q. It is often remarked that politicians often interfere in the working of the corporation - your views?
A. It is part of the job. One is working in a democratic set up wherein the system envisages the active participation of the corporators in the day-to-day working of the corporation.

Q. Some of the new areas of the Municipal Corporation - like the 38 fringe villages that have been merged into the municipal limits lack the basic facilities. Any concrete plans?
A. It is our duty to provide all the civic facilities to all the areas that fall in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation and I am confident that we will be able to do so.

Interview by: Rahul Surkund
Photographs: Harikrishna