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.