No police nod, NMC backs out, yet mayor plans event during Covid

Nagpur: Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari has decided to continue with his plan of organizing an event on Sunday in the name of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) even as city police have sought cancellation of the programme and the civic administration too is not supporting it.
NMC’s private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW), whose Rs374 crore one time settlement (OTS) is pending with general body for approval, has reportedly sponsored the event after municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B refused to issue work order as only one bid was received to appoint agency to organize the event.
However, OCW has denied sponsoring the event.
NMC public relations department on Saturday issued a press release about the civic body organizing an event in which 75 artists will paint on a 75 metre long canvas at 10am on Sunday in front of Tata Parsi School at Gandhisagar lake. As per the press release, the event is an initiative by Tiwari.
Radhakrishnan later told TOI, “NMC is not organizing the event as no funds were sanctioned for the programme. I am not opposing the event but all requisite permissions need to be taken and government guidelines should be followed. I will initiate action if guidelines are violated,” he said.
Senior PI Bharat Kshirsagar on January 20 has sent a notice under section 149 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to NMC sports officer directing to cancel the programme. “Government has restricted all types of programmes for containing the spread of Covid-19. CP had imposed section 144 under CPC and 37 (1), (3) of Mumbai Police Act. Therefore, you should cancel the programme,” the notice stated.
Tiwari said, “Event is being organized to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhashchandra Bose and 75th year of India’s independence. I have told police that there will be no violation of any guidelines. There is plan to install 20 canvas in such a manner that even artists will follow all guidelines. So, there is no need to think otherwise,” he said.
A few days ago, offences were registered against East Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde of BJP who had tested Covid-19 positive but on 6th and 7th day of home isolation, he had led an agitation, met large number of party workers and also the CP in violation of guidelines.
In case of Sunday’s programme, CP Amitesh Kumar said, “They have been advised not to hold the event. In case Covid-19 guidelines are violated, legal action will be taken.”
As per NMC officials, Rs6 lakh were required for the event. Tender was floated for appointing a private agency but only one bid was received. The civic chief reportedly denied to issue work order and gave directives for retendering.
An official from NMC said, “Later, OCW accepted to sponsor the programme under corporate social responsibility (CSR). All materials including canvas, paints etc have been procured with OCW funds,” he said.
OCW director KMP Singh said, “Is a totally wrong information that OCW is sponsoring the event. No one approached us for sponsorship,” he said.
Tiwari said NMC administration has arranged funds for the programme.
Draft of revised agreement to be signed between the NMC, NESL and OCW is pending with general body. The revised agreement is for implementation of OTS approved for OCW. From OTS, OCW is likely to get benefit of over Rs374 crore, as per documents obtained under RTI Act and as per allegations of few corporators.