Urban News

citizens say ‘not aware’ of the project

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is finding it difficult to get any response from citizens for the City Volunteer Technical Corps (CVTC) meant for effective implementation of the development works under JNNURM.

The PMC had initiated the process of setting up of the CVTC on the directives of the Union government two months ago. The CVTC was supposed to be set up for seven different fields. While PMC claims that it had received poor response to CVTC, citizens, activists and organisations said they are unaware of such an invitation though there are many aspirants ready to join the panel.

A week ago, the PMC had invited applications from people for three-member teams in seven different categories of urban engineering, planning, poverty alleviation, governance, heritage, environment and financial services.

“We had advertised the need for expert citizens to contribute in the development of the city by becoming part of the CVTC. There has been very poor response to the invitation,” said Pravin Ashtikar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner and coordinator for JNNURM works. “The civic body will forward the list of interested members to the Union government as there was no need of selection for the best three in each group due to poor response,” he said.

Major General (Retd) S C N Jathar of Nagrik Chetna Manch said it was shocking to know that the civic body claim of poor response to public participation in the development activities. “I am unaware of such an invitation from the PMC. I have not heard it from any other organisation regarding their knowledge on CVTC. There are too many expert groups of each sector active in the city that would be voluntarily keen to contribute in development of the city,” he said, alleging that the PMC has been trying to hide information on JNNURM works. 

Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said the PMC should have given proper publicity for setting CVTC as the citizens are not aware of the move. “It should have advertised it in a way that it reaches maximum people and there was no harm in releasing a press statement. The way it is going ahead with CVTC appointment indicates that it does not want the public to be part of it,” he said.