A municipal official has been suspended for six days after 12 streetlights on a road travelled by Prime Minister on October 31 were found non-functional, while several others were flickering.
Mahesh Vasava, the in-charge clerk of the lighting department at Dabhoi Municipality in district, was suspended over alleged negligence in maintaining the streetlights, despite instructions from the civic body, according to the suspension order, The Indian Express reported.
The order, issued by Dabhoi Municipality Chief Officer Viraj Shah on October 31, directed Vasava to appear before the “competent authority” after the suspension period and explain the alleged negligence.
The action was taken under Section 48 of the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963, which provides for the imposition of penalties “for good and sufficient reasons…upon any officer or servant of a municipality”.
According to the suspension order, the municipality had assigned responsibilities to various departments in view of the movement of VIPs through the area. These included “cleanliness, control of stray cattle, and maintenance of streetlights”.
As the clerk in charge of the lighting department, ensuring that the streetlights were functioning properly was among Vasava’s primary responsibilities, the order stated.
However, the official allegedly failed to ensure that the required repairs were completed on time, despite instructions from the municipality.
“Despite being instructed by this office, you failed to ensure that the necessary repairs were carried out in a timely manner. Therefore, you are being suspended under Section 48 of the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963,” the suspension letter stated.
The order identified the affected stretch as the road from Sinor Crossroads, through the Bhogol area, up to Sarita Bridge. It stated that 12 streetlights along the route were “not working”, while some others were flickering.
Prime Minister Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries were scheduled to travel by helicopter to Vadodara airport after attending the National Unity Day celebrations at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar on October 31.
However, as dusk had fallen, Modi and the other dignitaries travelled approximately 90 km by road to Vadodara airport instead of taking a helicopter.
The highway connecting Vadodara with the Statue of Unity passes outside Dabhoi, while several key roads in the town lead to it.
The suspension order directed Vasava to appear before the competent authority on November 6 at 11 am for a personal hearing and submit an explanation for failing to discharge his assigned duties.
It also referred to previous repeated complaints against the official.
Sources told that the action is being viewed as a consequence of other ongoing inquiries into certain works undertaken by Vasava.
The additional charge and responsibilities assigned to him have also been withdrawn.
