Engineers' strike may affect BMC services today

MUMBAI: Civic services like water supply and garbage collection may be paralyzed in the eastern suburbs on Saturday following a strike called by BMC employees.
Staffers have been protesting against an assault on a sub-engineer in Ghatkopar on Thursday. The victim, Mangesh Phad, was taken to Rajawadi Hospital for treatment.
According to his colleagues, Mangesh Phad was targeted because he demolished an illegal structure in Bhatwadi.
More than 500 employees gathered outside the N ward office to protest against the attack on Friday.
"Engineers of all wards in the eastern suburbs will march to the BMC headquarters and protest against the assault on Phad," said Sukhdeo Kashid, of the Municipal Engineers' Association.
Meanwhile, the Pant Nagar police registered an FIR against MNS legislator Ram Kadam and fifteen others for Thursday's assault.
Kadam and others were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, unlawful assembly and deterring a public servant from doing his work. According to the police, a group of people barged into Phad's office after he had demolished an illegal construction in Bhatwadi, Ghatkopar (W). "Kadam had reportedly threatened Phad against carrying out the demolition," said a senior police officer.
The structure belonged to Mangal Kamble, who was also involved in the clash assault on Phad on Thursday.
BMC personnel want Phad's assailants arrested and seek protection for civic engineers. "The engineers are being assaulted for doing their work. The commissioner must take a strong stand. Nobody wants to get beaten up for doing their work," said Kashid.
Under attack
January 27, 2011: Thirteen BMC employees, including an assistant municipal commissioner, were heckled and assaulted during a drive to evict unlicensed hawkers in Dadar flower market.
April 1, 2011: A junior civic engineer, Mangesh Achrekar, was beaten up by a mob while he was conducting a survey on illegal extensions in Dharavi-Koliwada.
March 3, 2011: A junior engineer in the hydraulic department in Chembur was thrashed by Shiv Sena workers after he took on water tankers.