The four-member committee will study the nature of employment in different civic departments, the type of work, current staff pattern, workload, workforce required in each department and need for training, standing committee chairman Ajay Choksi told Express Newsline.

Comprising an expert from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, a retired civic official, local legal expert and an industrialist, the panel will submit it's report within two months to the standing committee chairman. The standing committee had on April 8 passed a resolution to this effect and has earmarked Rs 2 lakh for the purpose.

Stressing the need for rationalisation of workforce in SMC, standing committee member Madansinh Atodaria said, ``It is an old establishment which requires changes for efficiency and administrative convenience. Computerisation has necessitated relocation of some employees which can be done after the report is submitted.''

Choksi said the Fifth Pay Commission had put an additional financial burden of 30 per cent in form of employees' salary. In 1997, the total salary bill of civic employees was Rs 97 crore, which had gone up to Rs 125 crore after the implementation of the commission recommendations. He said the corporation had to allocate Rs 143 crore in it's current budget for employees' salary (including arrears to be paid with effect from April 1996).

Atodaria said that while Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan had abolished about 900 vacant posts, once the report is submitted, the SMC can encourage voluntary retirement scheme.

Chokshi, however, clarified that no employees would be retrenched but there would be no new recruitments.

Pointing out that many civic works which were done departmentally seven years ago were now done through contract, he said SMC had introduced contract system in sanitation, drainage, hydraulic, planning, designing, tender documentation and project supervision departments. The civic body has hired consultants to carry out capital works which have reduced workload considerably.

Computerisation, introduction of contract system and hiring of consultants for supervision of projects has necessitated that civic workforce be rationalised, Choksi said.

In 1994-95, the SMC carried out capital work worth Rs 80 crore, while in the current year Rs 281 has been earmarked for the same.