PCMC commissioner issues show-cause notices to YCM Hospital dean and chief garden superintendent

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi has issued show-cause notices to two senior officials. Both must submit a written reply within two days. The recipients are Dr Rajendra Wable, dean of the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, and Mahesh Gargote, the corporation's chief garden superintendent.

Suryawanshi has begun a crackdown on irregularities and administrative negligence in the corporation. He has suspended 11 officials and employees in the past seven months. Notices are now being served on senior officials one after another.

The first case concerns Dr Wable. A police case has been registered against him on the charge of insulting an assistant professor of YCM Hospital. The notice cites the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing police investigation. He is also accused of failing to maintain integrity in his duty by behaving in a manner unbecoming of a government servant. The commissioner has warned that if the reply is not satisfactory within two days, or no reply comes, action will be taken as per the rules.

The second case concerns chief garden superintendent Gargote. He is accused of illegally felling 52 old trees with heritage status at a private site in Pimpri. It is alleged that the number and age of the trees were understated in the records. It is also alleged that tree felling was promoted in disregard of existing rules, government directives and administrative approval. The complaint states that the irregularity caused financial loss and a loss of revenue to the corporation.

Gargote is responsible for the protection and upkeep of the city's trees and the maintenance of its gardens. Over the allegation of negligence in duty despite this, the notice asks him why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

Suryawanshi has warned that if a satisfactory reply is not received in the stipulated time, strict disciplinary action will be taken directly against both senior officials. The decision has caused considerable stir in the corporation's corridors.