The Times of India 02.04.2013
75% public fountains in Pimpri-Chinchwad defunct
PUNE: Around 75% of the fountains constructed by the PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) over the last few years for beautification of chowks and gardens are non-functional.
Raju Savale, vice-president of the environment cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad unit of MNS said, "The civic body constructed fountains in the gardens, main chowks and other important places in the city. But the MNS found many of these fountains to be defunct during inspections in 2010 and 2013. So we sought details from the PCMC under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005. We had queries about the total number of fountains created by the civic body in the municipal limits, the expenditure incurred on it, the work order given, the final amount paid for it, number of operational and non-operational fountains, amount spent on repairs and total expenditure made on them till date."
Savale added, "The civic body gave information that there are 35 fountains in the city as of March 26, 2013. Of these, 10 are operational and 25 are non-operational. The operational fountains are not fully operational. The civic body has spent Rs 74.85 lakh on construction of these fountains and Rs 16.40 lakh on their repairs till date. As a result, it has spent a total of Rs 91.25 lakh on these fountains."
MNS has submitted a letter to the municipal commissioner, Shrikar Pardeshi, demanding that the contractors who were supposed to repair and maintain the fountains be blacklisted. The civic flying squads should prepare a report about the working of fountains and take action against concerned officials, the memorandum said. When contacted, Pardeshi said he will look into the issue.
Raju Savale, vice-president of the environment cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad unit of MNS said, "The civic body constructed fountains in the gardens, main chowks and other important places in the city. But the MNS found many of these fountains to be defunct during inspections in 2010 and 2013. So we sought details from the PCMC under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005. We had queries about the total number of fountains created by the civic body in the municipal limits, the expenditure incurred on it, the work order given, the final amount paid for it, number of operational and non-operational fountains, amount spent on repairs and total expenditure made on them till date."
Savale added, "The civic body gave information that there are 35 fountains in the city as of March 26, 2013. Of these, 10 are operational and 25 are non-operational. The operational fountains are not fully operational. The civic body has spent Rs 74.85 lakh on construction of these fountains and Rs 16.40 lakh on their repairs till date. As a result, it has spent a total of Rs 91.25 lakh on these fountains."
MNS has submitted a letter to the municipal commissioner, Shrikar Pardeshi, demanding that the contractors who were supposed to repair and maintain the fountains be blacklisted. The civic flying squads should prepare a report about the working of fountains and take action against concerned officials, the memorandum said. When contacted, Pardeshi said he will look into the issue.
