EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE:MUMBAI, May 14: The ongoing KhoobSurat drive in addition to cleaning Mumbai also seems to be cleansing the conservancy department.

In a rare on-the-spot disciplinary action additional municipal commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad today ordered the suspension of two class four civic employees for dereliction of duty.

However, the issue is likely to snowball with the Sharad Rao-led Municipal Mazdoor Union (MMU) threatening to agitate against the ``unjustified suspension orders.''

Gaikwad, along with Mayor Vishakha Raut, K west ward officer C R Hirekar and other senior civic staff had visited the ward to supervise the clean-up operations on Wednesday morning. After a satisfactory tour of several places in the ward, the officers were shocked when they reached St Francis Gaothan area in Vile Parle west at 10 am. The place was stinking due to the garbage that had collected over a period of several days and Shanta Ashok, a sweeper and Vishnu Janu, a mukadam, the employees supposed to clean the area were found missing.

Inquiries revealed that the employees had reported on duty at 7 am, but after signing the muster, opted for a break even before beginning their work. Gaikwad immediately asked the ward officer to commence an inquiry 2 against the duo and suspended them.

He later warned that similar action would be taken against other employees if found neglecting their duty. However, Advocate Sukhdev Kashid, secretary of the MMU told Express Newsline that the union will oppose such unreasonable orders. ``I have come to know about the suspensions and I believe that the employees were not given a chance to defend themselves,'' he said.

Kashid pointed out that two days ago, the entire staff of the K West ward office had observed a day's token strike to protest against the indifferent attitude of Hirekar. ``A local corporator Ismail Makwana had visited the ward office and abused a junior engineer, Gaikwad, in filthy language in the presence of the ward officer. Instead of restraining the corporator and filing a police complaint against his abusive behaviour, the Hirekar did not take any action,'' Kashid pointed out.

``If action has to be taken, it should be against the ward officer for failing in his duties to protect his staff,'' Kashid said, adding that the union leaders had decided to hold a meeting tomorrow to plan future action.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.