Diwali Action Mode: Pune Municipal Commissioner Suspends Engineers, Fines Health Officials for Negligence
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 20th October 2025: While most of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) staff is on Diwali break, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram is conducting surprise inspections and taking strict action against negligence in civic administration. In a series of decisive steps, two engineers from the building development department have been suspended for failing to report unauthorized construction, while disciplinary action has been taken against several health officials and supervisors for poor cleanliness in the city.
Suspension for Ignoring Unauthorized Construction
The PMC’s Building Development Department came under scrutiny after the Commissioner discovered serious irregularities in Baner. At Survey No. 216, work was underway on the sixth and seventh floors of a building — beyond the approved map — under the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) scheme.
During the inspection, it was found that the sixth floor was already complete and work on the seventh floor was ongoing. Despite this clear violation, Junior Engineer Shubhangi Tarukmare and Deputy Engineer Sandeep Misal from the TDR Department failed to flag the issue. Taking serious note, Commissioner Ram immediately suspended both officers and ordered a departmental inquiry.
Deputy Commissioner (General Administration) Vijaykumar Thorat issued the official suspension orders following the Commissioner’s directive. The move has sent shockwaves through the civic body, where complaints of inaction against errant engineers have been piling up for months.
Health Officials Penalized for Poor Cleanliness
In another surprise visit on Sunday (October 19), the Commissioner inspected areas from Deep Bangla Chowk to Wadarwadi Road under the Shivajinagar–Ghole Road Ward Office. He found garbage strewn across several spots, emitting foul odors. Not a single PMC employee was present at the site during the inspection.
Commissioner Ram summoned the officials to the spot and reprimanded them for dereliction of duty. As their explanations were found unsatisfactory, he directed Deputy Commissioner Zone 2 Santosh Warule to take disciplinary action. Subsequently, fines were imposed on:
Senior Health Inspector Sunil Kamble – ₹5,000
Health Inspector Sangita Badami – ₹4,000
Mukadam Lalit Makwani and Raj Salvi – ₹2,000 each
Commissioner on Field Despite Holidays
While the PMC offices remain closed for the Diwali holidays till October 23, followed by a weekend break, Commissioner Ram has continued his inspection drives across the city. Over the past two days, he has ordered the suspension of two engineers, the transfer of two assistant commissioners and three staff members, and penal action against four officials for negligence.
According to sources, this is just the beginning. A larger administrative shake-up is expected in the coming days as the Commissioner aims to tighten accountability and improve civic services across Pune.
