As Nashik gears up for the Municipal Corporation elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled its manifesto, making significant promises for urban development while conspicuously sidestepping a major environmental controversy. The party, which is contesting 118 out of 122 seats in the city, has pledged to enhance the city's green cover but remained silent on the proposed felling of 1,700 trees in Tapovan for the Sadhugram construction project.
Green Promises and a Notable Omission
The manifesto, released on Thursday, outlines a vision for a greener Nashik. Sunil Kedar, the city unit President, detailed plans that include the development of new parks in every ward, the redevelopment of existing parks, and a general increase in the city's green canopy. However, when questioned about the contentious Tapovan project linked to the Kumbh Mela infrastructure, Kedar separated the two issues. He stated that while Sadhugram is a necessity for the mega religious event, the party's green cover promises are a separate commitment.
This stance stands in contrast to the approach of the Shiv Sena and the NCP alliance, which is contesting the polls together. They have explicitly pledged support for saving the trees in Tapovan, making environmental conservation a direct electoral point.
Transparency and Development: Core BJP Pledges
Aiming for a complete majority with 100-plus seats, the BJP has placed a strong emphasis on transparency and digital governance. A key promise is to conduct an online public audit of all civic projects. Kedar emphasized that all municipal services would be made available online through a single-window system. Furthermore, the party vows to make all public expenditure by the corporation publicly available and strengthen the public-audit system to ensure better transparency.
A Wide Array of Civic Promises
Beyond green initiatives and transparency, the BJP's manifesto casts a wide net, addressing various urban needs. The party has promised an array of civic improvements, including:
- Construction of safe pink toilets for women across the city.
- Development of more entertainment venues and tourist attractions.
- Modernization of NMC schools with digital libraries.
- Creation of dedicated venues for art and culture to support local artists.
- Building mini-sports complexes.
- Improving the city's road infrastructure.
Kedar also pointed out that compensatory plantation for the trees proposed to be cut for Sadhugram has already begun, a move likely intended to address environmental concerns. As Nashik voters evaluate these promises, the contrast between the BJP's broad development agenda and the opposition's focused environmental stance on Tapovan is set to be a defining feature of the election campaign.
