7 January
2017
PUNE: The
pending Development Plan for old Pune has been approved before the election
code of conduct for civic polls comes into effect. As ten municipal
corporations in Maharashtra, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, go to polls
next month, approvals to pending development plans are being witnessed at the
last moment.
The State government has quickly approved the long-pending
Development Plan (DP) for old Pune city. The plan, languishing since 2007, aims
to give a major change to traffic problems in the area. It also aims to
redevelop the old buildings in this part of the city, which comprises the
traditional Peth area. The Pune Metro Rail routes have also been marked in this
area as per the DP.
Of the 937 reservations proposed in the DP, 850 have been
retained.
The State government’s assent for restructuring old Pune is
expected to earn political advantage over the NCP.
In a bid the match this move, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal
Corporation (PCMC), controlled by the NCP, green-lighted a clutch of
development projects pegged at Rs. 53 crore before the election code of conduct
came into effect. Additionally, nearly 30 short notice proposals for new
projects were also approved by the PCMC Standing Committee.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, heading the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party in the State, has said that his party “would change the face of
the city” if it comes to power in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which is
currently being held by Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Several sitting corporators of Congress and NCP have defected
to BJP ahead of elections.
As many as nine sitting corporators, including five from NCP
and three from Congress, have joined the BJP. High-profile defections include
Bapu Karne and Pintu Dhawade of NCP, and Sheetal Sawant, Abhijit Kadam and
Ashwini Jadhav of Congress.
“There are many more corporators from NCP who are eager to
join us. They realise that NCP is a sinking ship. However, we are taking in
only those who have some poll merit,” General Secretary of BJP’s
Pimpri-Chincwad unit, Sarang Kamtekar said.
On the other hand, seven Congress corporators have shifted
their allegiance to the NCP, their erstwhile coalition partner in the State.
According to NCP leader Yogesh Behl, there are “many aspirants” who want to
contest with the party’s ticket.
He added that the Congress corporators have joined his party
willingly and alleged that BJP was “concertedly breaking parties” as it lacked
suitable candidates for the polls.
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