Urban development and housing department minister Awdhesh Kushwaha has a different view to that of his predecessor Samrat Choudhary regarding the dissolution of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Kushwaha took charge of the department on Wednesday.

He said there was no need to dissolve the PMC and all issues at the civic body would be resolved through peaceful dialogues.

"The PMC is a constitutional body and there is no need to dissolve it. If there are any issues affecting the functioning of the civic body then I would look into it. I would personally talk to the elected representatives and the officials and resolve the issues between them," said Kushwaha.

Apparently, officials of the Bihar Administrative Services in the PMC are up in arms against mayor Afzal Imam and few of his supporting ward councillors since October on charges of misbehaviour against them, including female officers.

His priorities are sanitation, monsoon preparedness, expediting the process of approval of maps for new buildings and fast-tracking other urban development schemes. Kushwaha said the master plan for Patna would also be notified by March-end.

Speaking on monsoon preparedness works, Kushwaha said: "The monsoon would start in a few months and we want to ensure that there is no waterlogging in the city."

The monsoon preparedness works, which basically involves cleaning of all minor, medium and major drains or canals, manholes and catchpits or silt traps, start normally from the first week of April.

On the master plan, he said: "We expect the master plan to be finalised by March."

Samrat released the draft of the proposed master plan for Patna on August 15 last year. Thereafter, feedback was sought from residents following which it was supposed to be notified. However, it is still to be formally notified.