Pune: Two days after state govt issued a notification approving PMC as planning authority for 23 merged areas, newly elected corporators on Friday grilled the administration on the lack of civic amenities in these pockets. They further raised a demand during the general body (GB) meeting to prepare the draft development plan (DP) for these areas without delay. The corporators also urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to hold a meeting of corporators from merged areas to discuss the problems residents have long been facing despite coming under the civic body. The special GB on Friday was held for the appointment of members to various committees, including the standing committee. Soon after the beginning of the proceedings, NCP’s senior corporator Baburao Chandere raised the issues of the 23 merged areas. He appreciated the efforts put in by PMC over the last few years to obtain planning authority status — however, he said the administration should no longer delay further steps to give relief to citizens from the problems they have been facing. Citizens from merged areas are already facing many challenges in getting basic amenities, it was declared. Despite being part of PMC for the last five years, they have repeatedly pointed out that development works in their area are slow-paced. Major challenges highlighted include inadequate water supply, weak road networks, poor planning for daily garbage management, and haphazard development projects. State govt had earlier stayed recovery of property tax from merged areas after residents strongly objected to this levy collection in the absence of proper civic services. Chandere said, “Before the merger of 23 areas, 11 areas were merged in PMC. But the drafting of the GB was delayed. Such a delay should not happen for 23 merged areas. The govt’s notification gave powers to PMC to issue building permissions and collect the revenue. The administration also needs to work towards providing civic amenities in these areas and identify reservations for schools, gardens, open areas, crematoriums, etc.” While speaking after the GB to media persons, NCP’s leader in PMC, Nilesh Nikam, said that the administration also needed to resolve the issues pertaining to the collection of property tax from citizens in merged areas. There were flaws in property tax collection that needed to be rectified, he claimed. Ajit Satav, a resident of Manjari, commented on the development and said it was good that newly elected corporators have raised issues of merged areas in PMC. “We expect concrete solutions now,” he said. Although PMC was extending basic amenities in merged areas, powers to issue building permissions and sanction plans were earlier with Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). State govt, by issuing a notification on Wednesday this week, approved PMC as the planning authority going ahead. Apart from issues of merged areas, the corporators also raised a demand to extend the amnesty scheme for property tax defaulters by one month. Names announced for various committees Later during the GB, names to six different committees were announced. For the standing committee, BJP appointed senior corporators, including Shrinath Bhimale, Kalinda Punde, Rupali Dhadve, and Vishal Dhanawade. NCP appointed Amol Balwadkar, former mayor Vaishali Bankar, and Suhas Tingre, while Congress recommended the name of former mayor Prashant Jagtap. Bhimale is likely to be elected as the standing committee’s chairman. Other committees appointed included city improvement, law, women and child development, sports, and names committees. Act against illegal hoardings: Mayor Nagpure City mayor Manjusha Nagpure on Friday said she has asked the civic administration to act against illegal hoardings and banners that dot the skyline across the city. A number of such illegal banners have been put up by supporters of newly elected people’s representatives to congratulate them in their new role as corporators. Nagpure also claimed that the corporators and their supporters have been appealing to others to not put up such illegal banners or hoardings and deface the city. Gun brandished at PMC over property tax dispute A resident from PMC areas, who came to the headquarters on Friday to discuss a dispute pertaining to property tax, had an argument with civic staff. Amid the row, he pulled out a revolver from his pocket and threatened to end his life by pointing the gun at his head. He was later pacified by security guards and staff present. PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said, “We are looking into the matter. A police complaint will be filed.” He added that security arrangements at the PMC office would be beefed up following the incident, and there will be thorough scrutiny before entry of citizens into the head office.
