Mumbai gets a new civic chief

Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) As the current Mumbai civic body chief retired Monday, Sitaram Kunta, an IAS officer of the 1985 batch was named the new municipal commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), an official said.

Kunte had been the principal secretary in the planning department of the Maharashtra government since June 2011. Prior to that, he was the secretary, housing development, besides holding the additional post of principal secretary, energy.

A graduate from Delhi School of Economics, Kunte holds a law degree from Lala Lajpatrai College of Law, Mumbai University.

Having keen interest in public affairs, he has pursued professional courses at the School of Public Policy of the University of Birmingham, UK and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, US.

Kunte has over 26 years of experience in the field of public administration in Maharashtra. His areas of specialisation include, urban development, housing and public administration. He has also been responsible for implementing various state housing programmes for the urban and rural poor in the state.

The IAS officer is also known for his contribution towards reforming regulations for the housing sector in the state, including drafting amendment to Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act.

He succeeds Subodh Kumar, who was given a three-month extension in January owing to the ongoing civic polls.