Pune Civic Body To Draft Individual Development Plans For Merged Villages
Pune, the municipal commissioner has directed the civic administration to prepare individual development plans for each of the 32 villages recently merged into the city’s limits. This strategic move aims to enable the civic body to better prioritize and implement projects based on specific local needs, addressing persistent complaints about neglected basic amenities. The decision, made during a meeting with a state-appointed committee overseeing development, signals a crucial shift towards more equitable urban planning and improved civic service delivery for these expanding areas within the municipal jurisdiction.
These 32 merged villages have historically faced a significant shortage of basic civic amenities, with drinking water consistently identified as a primary issue. Residents have frequently voiced their concerns about being overlooked by the municipal administration. During a recent meeting with the state government-appointed 27-member committee, the municipal commissioner specifically instructed the administration to compile detailed data on existing amenities and the most urgently demanded civic services for each village. While the state government has assured funding for a new water treatment plant to cater to these areas, the commissioner stressed that the civic body must commence work using its own resources without delay.
The civic body has already prepared drafts for a comprehensive drainage network and sewage treatment plants for the merged villages. However, the estimated cost for implementing these critical projects stands at approximately ₹2,000 crore. The sewage plan has been submitted to the central government, with funding being actively sought under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. Furthermore, the commissioner acknowledged that the demands of citizens in these areas often differ from the projects currently being undertaken, vowing that the civic body would strive to align its future work with the actual needs of the populace. Separately, issues concerning what residents perceived as exorbitant property taxes and penalties for delayed payments in these merged areas were recently highlighted in the state Assembly, prompting a state minister to assure that no additional tax burdens would be imposed.
The initiative to create tailored development plans for Pune’s merged villages is a positive step towards inclusive urban growth. It highlights the importance of responsive governance and targeted infrastructure development to ensure all citizens receive essential services. This approach is crucial for fostering equitable, sustainable, and well-integrated urban areas within the expanding municipal landscape.
