Pune Corporators Demand Swift Action on Civic Amenities in Merged Areas
In Pune, newly elected corporators on Friday confronted the municipal administration over the persistent lack of basic civic amenities in 23 recently merged areas. This critical discussion took place during a general body meeting, just two days after the state government issued a notification officially approving the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) as the planning authority for these localities.
Urgent Calls for Development Plans and Amenities
The corporators emphasized the urgent need to prepare a draft development plan without any further delays. They also urged the PMC to organize a special meeting specifically for corporators representing the merged areas to address the long-standing grievances of residents. Despite being under the PMC's jurisdiction for the past five years, these areas have seen sluggish progress in development works, leaving citizens frustrated.
NCP's senior corporator, Baburao Chandere, spearheaded the debate by acknowledging the PMC's efforts in securing planning authority status. However, he stressed that the administration must now accelerate steps to alleviate the hardships faced by residents. He highlighted that similar delays had occurred with 11 previously merged areas, and such setbacks should not be repeated for the current 23.
Key Challenges in Merged Areas
Major issues plaguing these merged pockets include:
- Inadequate and irregular water supply systems
- Poorly maintained and underdeveloped road networks
- Inefficient daily garbage management and waste disposal
- Haphazard and unplanned development projects
Chandere further pointed out that with the new notification, the PMC now has the authority to issue building permissions and collect revenue. He called for immediate action to provide essential civic amenities and identify reservations for public facilities such as schools, gardens, open spaces, and crematoriums.
Property Tax Disputes and Security Concerns
Nilesh Nikam, the NCP leader in PMC, addressed the media after the meeting, emphasizing the need to resolve property tax collection issues in the merged areas. He noted flaws in the current system that require rectification. This concern is particularly pressing as the state government had earlier halted property tax recovery from these areas after residents protested the levy in the absence of proper civic services.
In a related incident, a resident visiting the PMC headquarters on Friday to dispute a property tax matter brandished a revolver during an argument with civic staff, threatening self-harm. He was eventually calmed by security personnel. PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated that a police complaint would be filed and security measures at the office would be enhanced, including stricter entry checks.
Broader Municipal Discussions and Appointments
Apart from the merged areas, corporators also advocated for extending the amnesty scheme for property tax defaulters by an additional month. The general body meeting also saw the appointment of members to various committees, including the standing committee, city improvement, law, women and child development, sports, and names committees. Key appointments included BJP's Shrinath Bhimale, who is likely to become the standing committee chairman, along with representatives from NCP and Congress.
Additionally, city mayor Manjusha Nagpure directed the administration to take action against illegal hoardings and banners erected across Pune, many of which were put up by supporters of newly elected representatives. She urged corporators and their supporters to refrain from such activities to maintain the city's aesthetics.
Residents like Ajit Satav from Manjari expressed hope that the corporators' raised concerns would lead to concrete solutions, underscoring the community's expectation for tangible improvements in their daily lives.
