Greetings 2023. The New Year brought in severe cold conditions. That is good.
The more it snows up in the mountains, the better it is for the water situation in the summers, nay! through the remaining year, for us mortals in the plains.
January also brought in sad tidings for the Colony, in that, the Colony media groups flashed ‘breaking news’ that the SCRWA President had resigned quoting health grounds, barely 72 days into his tenure. The local Groups, our Colony visheshagyas, and some genuinely concerned residents set the Groups agog with gossip, conjectures and much more, on as to what had actually transpired to make the elected President’s throw in the towel so soon. Doubts flew around like drones on Republic Day. There had been visible fissures and under-currents between him and the other EC members and gossip was not going to resolve or bury the unfortunate decision.
This elected EC has been a vibrant transparent one, hence, instead of wasting precious time and energy on being the local ‘Monsieur Hercule Poirot’, I tagged the main man in the ‘power corridors’ of Southcity-I. He was kind enough to give an elaborate run-up to the reasons, which precipitated the President’s decision to resign. Kindly read the verbatim excerpt received from the SCRWA General Secretary, Mr. Ashwani Duggal. He elaborates :-
“The infighting within SCRWA got precipitated because Mr Mittal refused to sign an affidavit that was required by MCG so that SCRWA could take over park maintenance. The MCG team was pursuing us for almost a week to sign the affidavit. A majority of other members of SCRWA wanted to take control over the money spent on maintenance of parks. This was one of the key issues in elections, where our team had alleged that there has been rampant misappropriation of funds for park maintenance in our colony in last few years and we were keen to make the entire process transparent.
We were informed by MCG team about maintenance of parks in the 2nd week of December. A detailed plan for managing park maintenance was shared with all residents in our communication after the last EC meeting on Sunday, 11th December. After that the affidavit was received around 15th and we kept pursuing for signatures in WhatsApp messages to the President and personal meetings with the President twice (on 19 December and again on 20th December).
Initially the President said the affidavit has to be changed. The MCG team told us the no change is possible. This standard affidavit had been signed by over a dozen RWAs. After that all concerns (GST/encroachments/collection of block wise expenses etc.) mentioned by the President on 19th were handled by sending appropriate messages in the Park group to strengthen the process.
Finally, on 20th December the MCG team told me that if the affidavit is not signed by 21st and received by 3 pm, the funds for November and December would lapse. Our attempts till 10 a.m in the morning of 21st to get the affidavit signed were unsuccessful. To ensure government formalities, the SCRWA EC passed a resolution with seven of the remaining 10 members signing it in an emergency meeting, authorizing the VP to sign the affidavit. This action was completed by 1 p.m. so that the funds due for park maintenance do not lapse, and the affidavit sent
to MCG.
When Mr. Mittal came to know of our decision, he called the MCG JE and told him not to honour the affidavit passed by a majority of EC members. Most members of the EC again objected to this action by the President. On 27th morning, Mr. Mittal, unilaterally and without informing any EC member, sent a resignation note to Mr. Sharma”.
With that said, many questions do still come to mind. While we as resident friends pray for his good health, it was disturbing news. Setting aside personal friendships with the resigned President, Mr. Sunil Mittal, we must move on, appreciating the recourse taken by the remaining EC in best interests of the Colony.
The EC, in its Jan monthly meeting, (Minutes circulated on WhatsApp Group) has once again, shared their plan of action to stabilize and correct this anomaly. The VP has been designated ex-officio President, until legal clarity is obtained, and a new President nominated or elected in the AGM they wish to hold in February.
Hence, the President’s resignation, though a setback for many who voted for him, is unlikely to affect the efficient functioning of this new EC, which will complete a fruitful 100 days on 24 Jan. Their strength lies in their transparency and info sharing, besides the allocation of tasks to each member, and in turn, each EC Member’s zeal and commitment to ensure that he / she delivers in the trust reposed in them by the residents.
Col Anil Alagh, M Block
