The Indian Express 15.10.2013
CCTV project for PMC and PCMC cleared by home dept, says Pawar
A month after the state government cleared CCTV project for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the home department, whose final approval is important as the project is related to security, has also given a green signal to implement the proposed project. This was announced by Deputy Chief minister Ajit Pawar on the sidelines of the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) meeting in the city on Monday.
"The home department had to give its final nod, which was done today,'' said Pawar.
Under the project, which is pegged at Rs 225 crore and involves installation of 1,400 CCTVs, the monitoring has to be done by the Pune Police Commissionerate with control rooms to be set at both corporations. "The project was delayed owing to hiccups in the tender process, which has been sorted now. With the home department giving it nod, the project will be implemented soon,'' said Pawar.
When asked about the Rs 2 crore traffic plan, he said the traffic police needs to utilise funds that were cleared in July. The traffic police had recently purchased 1,200 barricades which were distributed among 33 traffic divisions in the city.
Talking about the state cabinet's nod to Pune Metro, the Deputy Chief Minister said the High Power Committee appointed by the government will take decisions on new proposals pertaining to the Metro.
The committee comprises chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal secretaries of the urban development department and finance and planning department, and the municipal commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
"The project will not face any delay as the approvals can be given by the committee without having to take the long route of cabinet nods,'' he said.
With the fleet of 500 buses approved under JNNURM funds, Pawar assured the pending demand of as many as 1,679 buses will also be met soon.
Pawar said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was looking into the allegations of social activist Anna Hazare and Medha Patkar who have demanded a judicial inquiry into the sale of state sugar factories which led to bankruptcy. "As citizens they have the right to make such allegations. The Chief Minister will take a final call on it,'' he said.
The activists had alleged the sugar factories were first made sick by politicians and then sold to private firms owned by them.
On illegal constructions, he said, "We have to see whether an appeal can be made to the advocate general on the matter."
