BMC Suspends Four, NMC Yet To Fix Accountability A 60-year-old woman was electrocuted in a rainwater puddle in Nagpur after a damaged underground streetlight cable left the area in a hazardous condition. Despite allegations that the incident stemmed from faulty infrastructure, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has yet to take action against any officials or contractors involved, unlike Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which swiftly suspended four officials following a similar fatal incident. The stark contrast in responses has drawn renewed scrutiny of the NMC’s handling of civic failures. The BMC’s swift action came after a 60-year-old man died during drain maintenance work in Sakinaka on July 2. The civic body suspended four officials within 24 hours, pending an inquiry, highlighting its immediate response to the tragedy. In contrast, the NMC’s delayed reaction to the electrocution case has raised concerns about accountability. NMC chief engineer Leena Upadhey confirmed that an inquiry has been ordered, with an electrical inspector from the state’s Public Works Department tasked to investigate the incident. However, she emphasized that further action would depend on the findings of the probe. The NMC’s approach has sparked criticism, with critics arguing that its reliance on post-incident inquiries without prompt accountability has become a recurring pattern. In 2024, a 24-year-old man died after poor restoration work left a road unsafe, prompting the NMC to promise stricter enforcement against contractors. Yet, allegations of negligent restoration continue to surface, suggesting that these assurances have not translated into meaningful action.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #public_works_department #brihanmumbai_municipal_corporation #leena_upadhey #nmc_chief_engineer
