Payoshi Bisht, Pune
The Government of Maharashtra has taken a major decision by deciding to set up a separate Municipal Council for the Phursungi and Uruli Devachi districts of Pune. Initially, both these areas were part of eleven villages that were included within the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in 2017. This gives residents what they have wanted for a long time — more control over local issues and better management that is close to home.
On Wednesday, the officials put out a final notice making it clear that these areas are no longer part of the Pune Municipal Corporation. However, the PMC will still be in charge of the waste depot in these villages.
Residents of the area are upset about the poor growth and lack of city services during their seven-year stint with the PMC. Viraj Thorat, who lives in Phursungi, has said that whether they are with the PMC or have their own town council, residents simply want better roads and proper growth. He also pointed out ongoing water problems, adding that water supply projects are incomplete and many areas still do not get water even as people are increasing in number.
Amol Ghule, another local, stressed that the government needs to give money along with setting up the new council.
The government has put Vikram Rajput, the tehsildar of Purandar, in charge of the Phursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Council. He will manage local governance and watch over the transition until the new council starts running properly. Vijay Shivtare, a former Purandar Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Shiv Sena leader, led the charge for the split. Shivtare, who is close to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said that joining Phursungi and Uruli Devachi with the PMC did not help the locals.
People desired a separate council which can overlook their districts due to high property taxes and insufficient infrastructure. Residents could not afford the big property taxes levied by the PMC, and their villages did not receive adequate funds for new projects.
As the Phursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Council has been set up, people hope it will provide relief to their long-standing problems.