Pune, as the newly formed municipal council covering Phursungi and Uruli Devachi submits its draft ward structure. This pivotal development, driven by persistent citizen demands, marks a crucial step in empowering local communities to shape their urban future, fostering more sustainable, equitable, and efficiently managed civic landscapes.
The journey towards this new municipal council has been a testament to grassroots advocacy. Phursungi and Uruli Devachi, once merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in 2017, faced challenges including higher taxes and perceived inadequacies in basic civic amenities. This led to a concerted demand from villagers for exclusion from the PMC, culminating in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s announcement in December 2022 to form a separate municipal council. A subsequent draft notification and a thorough review of over 4,500 objections and suggestions paved the way for the state’s approval, underscoring the responsiveness of governance to citizen voices.
The proposed draft ward structure, meticulously prepared and submitted to the district administration, outlines a council comprising 16 wards, each further divided into two smaller divisions, leading to a total of 32 corporators. This structure, based on the 2011 Census, aims to bring governance closer to the populace, ensuring more granular representation and facilitating direct engagement between elected representatives and their constituents. Such a decentralised model is crucial for tailoring civic services to specific local needs, promoting greater accountability, and fostering community-led initiatives for urban improvement.
The formation of this new council is poised to significantly impact the quality of life and urban development in these areas. With local representatives directly accountable, there is an enhanced potential for improved waste management practices, better provision of essential amenities like water supply and sanitation, and more responsive infrastructure development. These localised governance structures are fundamental to building eco-friendly cities, as they can more effectively implement sustainable practices and ensure equitable access to resources, particularly for vulnerable populations.
As preparations for local body elections commence under the State Election Commission, the finalisation of this ward structure is a critical administrative milestone. The process, which will include considering further suggestions and objections, ensures democratic participation in shaping the electoral landscape. This move towards self-governance empowers residents to actively participate in decision-making processes that directly affect their daily lives, paving the way for a more inclusive, responsive, and sustainably managed urban periphery in Pune.
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