Curation Team
PUNE: State industries minister Uday Samant said on Thursday there was “no immediate proposal” to form a separate municipal corporation for newly merged areas as the state govt was providing funds for their development.
Samant said PMC was providing adequate funds for development of these areas. The process of drafting a development plan for 23 merged areas was underway. Funds of around Rs 250 crore have been given for water supply projects, while Rs130 crore has been allocated for drainage works. PMC has also promised to give Rs 160 crore for development of roads. “The govt is committed to development of newly merged areas,” the minister said.
He made the statement during the ongoing monsoon session of state legislative council while replying to a query from MLC Yogesh Tilekar.
“The jurisdiction of PMC has expanded exponentially after merger of 32 villages. This is putting undue pressure on civic manpower and infrastructure. A dedicated corporation for these areas is the need of the hour as PMC has become the largest municipal corporation in the state,” Tilekar said.
Leaders who have demanded a separate civic body said that PMC was finding it difficult to provide basic facilities in the merged areas. Citizens are not getting water, good quality roads, or sewage treatment facilities. According to PMC officials, the proposal to merge 34 villages received a green signal from PMC in 2013-14. After the court’s directives, PMC merged 11 villages into its jurisdiction in 2017. Nine villages were merged partly, while two villages, Uruli-Phursungi, were added fully. PMC became the biggest municipal corporation in Maharashtra after the inclusion of 23 villages in July 2021. PMC limits will be increased to 518.77 sqkm after this merger. Two areas, including Uruli-Phursungi, were demerged in 2024 as local residents raised concern over poor infrastructure.
Elected members across party lines, including deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, have advocated for a new municipal corporation. Areas like Hadapsar, Mundhwa, Wagholi, Manjri, and nearby areas were to be added to the newly formed civic body.
Kondhwa abattoir closed for repairs
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that PMC has shut the Kondhwa abattoir. The decision was taken after Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) raised concern over pollution. He was speaking at the state assembly session. According to PMC officials, the decision to stop the operation of this facility was taken on Wednesday. “The facility will be restarted only when the issues raised by MPCB are resolved. The cutting of animals has been stopped for last three days,” said Sarika Funde, a senior official of PMC’s health department.
PMC officials said the facility slaughters around 90 animals per day. With 30 individuals on the PMC staff, the facility operates a single shift from 4 am to 11 am. The civic body established an effluent treatment plant at the site in 2019, which was cleared by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). BOX:
Comprehensive transport plan for Pune to resolve traffic issues: Misal
Minister of state for urban development and transport Madhuri Misal said on Thursday that a comprehensive transport plan has been prepared to solve the problem of traffic congestion in Pune city. The transport plan will establish coordination among public transport systems. Suggestions and objections will be invited, a meeting will be held with local public representatives and necessary measures will be taken, Misal said.
