The Indian Express 11.04.2013
PCMC panel approves Rs 6 cr for development projects
The standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for development works, including the controversial foot overbridge (FOB) on Pune-Nashik highway in Bhosari (Sheetalbaug area) to be set up at a cost of Rs 93 lakh.
This was the first meeting under new chairman of the panel Navnath Jagtap of the Nationalist Congress Party. Other works include commercial blocks for Army at a cost of Rs 71 lakh, electrification of Nehrunagar crematorium (47 lakh) and streetlight work in Wakad (53 lakh).
The sanctioning of the FOB in the meeting of the panel on Wednesday came as somewhat of a surprise, as it was not on the agenda on Tuesday.
In last week's meeting, Bhosari corporator Mahesh Landge had alleged that development works were going on at snail's pace in his ward in Bhosari. "Tendering has been completed a year ago but the foot overbridge work has not started in my ward. The municipal commissioner is deliberately not pushing development works in my ward," he alleged and walked out of the meeting.
The municipal commissioner on Wednesday denied the allegations.
"We have to go by rulebook. Things get stuck as we have to follow procedure," he said.
Although the FOB was not on the agenda on Tuesday, the municipal commissioner, apparently taken aback by allegations, placed it on the agenda and got it approved.
The municipal commissioner also denied allegations of high cost of the foot overbridge. "The cost was higher than the tender amount when sanctioned two-three years back. Now things have evened out," Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said. He also rubbished reports that he works under pressure from corporators.
Ruckus at public hearing
The town planning department last week postponing a public hearing for deletion of a road in Bhosari from the development plan, triggered opposition from Shiv Sena corporators and party workers resulting in one of the officials being locked up for an hour. The town planning department had invited 122 people last week to consider objections. The corporators and party workers were agitated as the municipal commissioner was not present for the hearing. He had apparently left for the divisional commissioner's meeting without intimating the Sena of his change of plan.
Shiv Sena leader Sarang Kamtekar said they should have been told in advance that the municipal commissioner would not be present. Kamtekar said Sena MP Gajanan Babar had rushed to Pimpri from Wai just to attend the hearing.
Pratibha Bhadane, deputy director of the town planning department pacified the corporators. "There is no specific provision in law by which hearing can be postponed. The hearing is being postponed as the municipal commissioner is busy and has gone for a meeting," she said.
The meeting was again held a couple of days ago.
