The Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal meeting was adjourned until November 20 after corporators from the ruling and opposition groups protested against the administration and raised allegations of bribery and official high-handedness during the general body meeting on Friday, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Sharmila Babar. After tributes were paid to former corporator Sandeep Waghre’s father, Balkrishna Waghre, and other deceased dignitaries, proceedings were adjourned briefly. When the meeting resumed, Shiv Sena group leader Vishwajit Barne raised the issue of alleged bribery involving municipal officers and employees.
Barne alleged that some officers did not act unless they were paid and asked contractors facing demands for money or administrative obstruction to approach the Shiv Sena. His remarks were part of a wider discussion in which corporators alleged that corruption had damaged the civic body’s reputation. The allegations were made during the meeting and were not independently established in the supplied report.
Leader of the Opposition Bhausaheb Bhoir alleged that officers had become unaccountable during the administrative period and did not respect elected corporators. He said that even routine letters were not receiving responses and warned against allowing frustration among corporators to escalate.
RPI group leader Kunal Vavhalकर raised the case of municipal chief engineer Pramod Ombhase. He alleged that Ombhase had faced action in the past but was subsequently promoted as chief engineer. He also alleged that Ombhase’s son-in-law had filled a natural drain in Ravet for the construction of a housing project. The report did not provide details of the earlier action, the alleged construction or any official finding on the claims.
NCP corporator Anant Korhale called for action against officers and employees who allegedly took money for completing work and said municipal works should be carried out according to rules. BJP corporator Sheetal Shinde alleged that officers were not interested in complaints from corporators and residents.
Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi was present at the meeting for some time. The administration said he left after receiving an urgent message about a video conference related to the Prime Minister’s Pragati scheme. Additional Commissioner Kuldeep Jangam remained present in the hall, according to the report.
Corporators objected that the commissioner’s departure had not been properly communicated to the house. NCP corporator Raju Bansode demanded that Suryawanshi be called back, while ruling party leader Prashant Shitole also asked the deputy mayor to request the commissioner’s presence. Members later stood in protest and criticised the administration over the alleged bribery case and the treatment of elected representatives.
The administration subsequently said that the commissioner had instructed Additional Commissioner Jangam to attend the meeting while he joined the online conference. It stated that Suryawanshi had been on his way back after the meeting concluded, but the general body session had already been adjourned by then. The next sitting is scheduled for November 20, according to the report.
