Maharashtra Sanctions Rs115 Cr for 23 Pune Villages
Maharashtra has sanctioned ₹5 crore for each of the 23 villages recently merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), including Fursungi and Uruli Devachi, in a landmark decision aimed at fixing long-neglected infrastructure and basic civic issues. The funding announcement signals a renewed state-level commitment to ensuring equitable development across Pune’s rapidly urbanising outskirts.
The decision, finalised during a high-level meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, was led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and attended by top urban development officials, local MPs, and PMC leaders. A key focus of the meeting was to address civic neglect in areas brought under PMC jurisdiction but lacking in essential services such as sanitation, water, and waste management. Among the most pressing issues raised was the long-standing public health crisis posed by the garbage depot at Ambegaon Budruk. The area has been grappling with unbearable stench and unchecked waste dumping for years, affecting nearby residential zones. Deputy CM Shinde directed officials to carry out an urgent inspection of the site and implement scientific waste management practices. This includes plans for vermicomposting and waste segregation infrastructure, which are expected to ease the environmental burden and improve living conditions.
The attention to the garbage issue underscores a shift in governance focus—from bureaucratic restructuring to delivering tangible outcomes. These villages, despite being legally absorbed into PMC limits, have for years operated in a developmental grey zone. The state’s financial sanction attempts to bridge this administrative gap by ensuring timely provision of water, roads, and sanitation services. Water scarcity and quality were also raised as top concerns during the session. The state has now approved treatment of the Jambhulwadi Lake, which has a capacity of 65 million cubic feet. Treated water from the lake will be supplied to underserved areas such as Ambegaon Khurd, Ambegaon Budruk, Mangdewadi, and Bhilarewadi. Officials confirmed that water quality will be verified before distribution to ensure it meets public health standards.
Another major concern highlighted was the increase in property taxes imposed on residents of the merged villages. Many citizens have protested what they see as unjust hikes in the absence of basic amenities. In response, the state has greenlit an amnesty scheme for pending property taxes. This means that residents will have a temporary relief window to settle old dues without penalties, while also making way for more structured, guideline-based tax collection in future phases. The issue of displaced gram panchayat employees also drew serious attention. Following the administrative merger, a total of 626 employees lost their positions due to technicalities related to staffing structure. These workers, who previously maintained key local services, have been left in limbo. Deputy CM Shinde instructed officials to review each employee’s current status and prioritise their reinstatement where possible, signalling a more humane approach to administrative integration.
The financial sanction adds up to over ₹115 crore in total and is being viewed as a critical step toward easing the urban-rural development divide. For villages like Fursungi and Uruli Devachi, which are now structured as a separate municipal council, the funds are expected to support both new infrastructure and the upgrade of failing legacy systems. Officials discussed a roadmap for fast-tracking civic work, and a monitoring mechanism is expected to be put in place to track how efficiently each village utilises its ₹5 crore allocation. The state’s decision comes at a time when Pune’s urban sprawl is rapidly absorbing peri-urban areas without proportionate resource allocation. Residents of merged villages have long voiced complaints about broken promises of roads, street lighting, drainage, and clean drinking water.
This fund release could act as a much-needed intervention to restore public trust and build resilient local systems. While the announcement marks progress, the execution will be key. The effectiveness of scientific waste treatment at Ambegaon, water reuse from Jambhulwadi Lake, and streamlined tax collection will determine whether the villages truly benefit or simply see another cycle of delayed implementation. The political signal is also noteworthy. With local body elections looming, state leaders are under pressure to show action on ground-level issues. The fund sanction, framed with urgency and reinforced by top-tier attendance, suggests that urban equity—long a buzzword—is finally being operationalised.
For now, the villages await their due. Roads to be laid, drains to be fixed, jobs to be restored. But with funds released, and instructions issued at the highest level, Pune’s merged villages may be looking at more than just promises—they may finally be on the cusp of delivery.
