Licence to simplify

Sanjay Patil, officer from licence department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has compiled a book on important laws and made it easy to use 

Sanjay Patil, a senior licence inspector from R-South ward of BMC has become famous in his ward. Reason, he has put in special efforts to break down the complicated laws and has  simplified them and written a book on it. His book has been a huge hit among his seniors and has garnered him a lot of praise from his colleagues. Patil, shares his experience with Cityplus as to how he has spent two years in deciphering these laws and compiling them.

Being self-sufficient
In 2008, I was posted in the licence department of A-ward of BMC. There was no senior in my department so I did not have guidance on how to go about implementing these laws. It was not right on my part to bother other seniors and colleagues every time. So, I got in to the practise of reading the bare act of BMC, and referring policies and circulars on my own. At the same time, I maintained a diary in which I noted all the vital rules. Gradually, I realised that the small information had slowly turned in to a thick reference book.

On demand
In BMC, every staff has to refer the BMC act and past policies or circulars. Like me, there were other colleagues from the licence department in various wards, who faced similar situation and had learnt about the diary that I had been maintaining. Soon the word spread and my colleagues from other ward offices and department began to refer my diary for easy reference. That’s when it struck me to reframe the diary in to a book. I started writing the book in 2008, it took me two years to select the major laws and the give their explanations.

User friendly
I have listed the laws in the alphabetical order. Like if you want to refer laws on specific chemical that are permitted to be stored one can refer and find out through the listed order. The book also includes provisions of various acts and policies of BMC related to issue of licences and all old and new schedules of licence fees that are useful for every staff from the licence department. Policy guidelines for advertisement and provision for various act such as defacement act, right to information act is also explained in simpler form. One can refer to this book for  various drafts, important letters and notices that are regularly issued by the department.
However, carrying out the huge task was not easy task. After work I would sit back and keep looking out for data and compile them. But, I was determined to do the hard work as this effort will ease my problems ahead.

Inspiration
Though the book has been outcome of my dedication and perseverance, it would not have been possible without the support of my seniors, Sunil Dhamne, assistant commissioner, A-ward and S N Amberkar, former superintendent of licence department in BMC. Both encouraged me to gather data and explained me various laws..

More in store
Now, I am in the process of writing another book in which I plan to bring out an updated version of the rules related to licence department. Also, I have prepared a directory of all vital services in R-South ward.

Role of Licence department
The licence department of BMC primarily carries out functions related to issue of trade licence, advertisements, encroachments and projections (includes setting up of stall boards, weather frames on shops). The licence inspector, carries out functions right from issuing of licences and notices, warnings for offenders who violate norms related to licence department of BMC

--Shubhangi Ghadi