Walk around, examine the issues: South Mumbai ward officers told

Additional BMC commissioner Ashish Sharma gave the instruction two weeks ago

Ashish Sharma, the new additional BMC commissioner, has instructed ward officers in south Mumbai to take a round of their wards everyday to get an idea about local issues. There are nine wards in south Mumbai.

Sharma said, "Sometimes being present on the spot gives us a sense of facts and it also changes the viewpoint. So I asked officials to take a round in their wards, see the situation of footpaths, encroachment, roads, scraps, etc. It will raise awareness among the officials and bring about positive change."

An assistant commissioner of the BMC told mid-day the instruction was given two weeks ago. "We haven't received any instruction to submit any report. But there is a meeting on Tuesday at the zonal level where we may get further instructions," said the officer on the condition of anonymity. Former BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi too had given similar instructions to ward officers in 2019.

Sharma on Marathi sign board issue

Ashish Sharma said shop owners have demanded six more months to install Marathi sign boards, but the decision will be taken after an assessment on how many shops have al-ready changed the boards. "We will take note of shops with Marathi boards till June 20 and then decide on action," said Sharma. The BMC has already extended the deadline to put boards till June 30.