The Indian Express             19.12.2013

PMC nod to include seven villages including Wagholi under city limits

THE boundaries of Pune city are all set to extend further with
elected representatives in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) giving their
consent for including Wagholi village on Pune-Nagar Road in addition
to proposed six villages to be merged to civic jurisdiction.

In October 2012, the state government had notified its aim to
include 28 villages in the PMC jurisdiction. Later, the government
received demand for adding six more villages to the list, for which it
sought the opinion of the civic body. These villages were Nandoshi,
Mangdewadi, Bhilarewadi, Gujar Nimbalkarwadi, Jambhulwadi and Kolewadi.

Accordingly, the civic administration while giving its favourable
response tabled a proposal of merging six more villages in PMC. The
proposal to include Wagholi village in list of villages to be merged in
PMC was tabled by Shiv Sena corporator Sachin Bhagat, citing rapid
urbanisation in the area. “The development in Wagholi is very fast and
there has to be a system in place to ensure proper development which can
be done if it is included in civic jurisdiction,” he said.

There was debate over inclusion of more villages in the PMC area
with the Congress and MNS opposing it, saying the civic body is unable
to meet basic demands of citizens in the present situation and adding
more villages would further add to the problem. The NCP with the help of
Shiv Sena and BJP got the proposal approved with majority vote.

Earlier, the civic administration while giving its favourable
opinion said the villages were geographically located adjoining to the
area earlier proposed to be merged in the civic jurisdiction and hence
could be added to the list of 28 villages that are in process of being
included in PMC limit.

It clarified that bringing more villages under PMC limits is
going to put pressure on existing civic facilities and so there should
be financial aid to develop infrastructure and meet the demand for civic
facilities in the newly proposed areas. Also, the strength of civic
staff should be increased to strengthen civic facilities in the new
areas and there should be an increase in water quota for the city, said
civic administration.

In 1997, when Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power in the state, the PMC
had decided to include 38 villages in its jurisdiction keeping in mind
the rapid urbanisation. However, 15 villages were dropped from the list
following opposition from villagers.