An argument with a corporator in a WhatsApp group led to the change in portfolio of an engineer of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) within two days. Sawant Patel, who was earlier looking after primary civic works such as roads, light, drainage etc, has now been assigned the responsibility of coordinating the MP-MLA meeting, “which happens once in a month.”
Besides, on the order of Surat City Mayor Daxesh Mawani, Patel has been served a show-cause notice for his “blunt reply” on the official WhatsApp group of Varachha East zone.
On Sunday, municipal corporator of Ward number 17, Swati Kayda, uploaded photos of an overflowing drainage line in a housing society in the group. She purportedly asked municipal officials to inform her if they cannot do the work properly. In reply, Patel said his staff was doing their work properly, adding such false allegations could not be tolerated. He also said that if the corporator thought that SMC officials were not doing their work, they should be transferred or suspended.
The WhatsApp chats went viral on social media and among people associated with SMC on Monday, angering Mayor Mawani, said sources. In the show-cause notice issued Tuesday, head of Varachha zone has asked Patel to respond in 10 days. Talking to The Indian Express, Mawani said, “We have told the zonal head of Varachha to issue show-cause notice to the engineer, seek his reply, and change his portfolio of work. The WhatsApp group has been made for friendly relations between elected leaders and administrative officials. Such a reply cannot be entertained, which is why we have ordered strict action against him.”
Engineer Patel said, “I was posted in Varachha zone four months ago. Earlier, I was working in the head office of the drainage department. We are putting in all possible efforts to sort out the issues of the public. My heart broke over allegations that work was not being done in the zone. So, I wrote it bluntly.”
Confirming the receipt of show-cause notice and change in portfolio, he said, “I have been made an officer for the coordination meeting of MP-MLA, which happens once in a month.”
On the drainage issue that sparked the row, Patel said, “On checking the area where drainage water overflows, I found that the jurisdiction lies with another engineer. The area does not fall within my purview of work.”
Notably, all the eight zones of the SMC have different WhatsApp groups with elected corporators, zone officials, political leaders, including mayor and deputy mayor, and standing committee chairman as their members.
The groups were created a few years ago to ensure zonal officials take note of the public issues shared by the municipal corporators in the group.
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