Expansion of Phule couple memorial: Pune civic body to acquire 91 properties at Rs 40 crore

Pune civic body chief Rajendra Bhosale said the Maharashtra government has instructed to acquire land to expand the memorial of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.

Built in 1852 in Mahatma Phule Peth, Phule Wada was home to the Phule couple for some time. (Express archive/ Pavan Khengre)

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently initiated the process of acquiring land to expand and integrate a monument dedicated to social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule at Ganj Peth. The project involves acquiring 91 properties owned by 516 people and occupied by 285 tenants at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

“The state government has given directions to acquire the land required for the project,” said Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, adding that the land survey for the project has been completed. He said 5,310 square metres of land contains the 91 properties to be acquired.

There are two memorials for the Phule couple located just a few meters apart, with private properties in between. In 2022, the Maharashtra government announced a budget of Rs 100 crore for the monument’s expansion.

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Phule Wada, the residence of the Phule couple, was designated a state heritage structure in 1992, and the Maharashtra government manages its conservation and renovation. It comes under the jurisdiction of the archaeological department and is listed as Heritage Grade 1.

Built in 1852 in Mahatma Phule Peth, Phule Wada was home to the Phule couple for some time. Mahatma Phule dedicated his efforts to uplifting the oppressed classes of society, and alongside his wife, Savitribai, he played a significant role in the education and empowerment of women.

Phule Wada features busts of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in the courtyard. The grounds also include a well that Phule opened for the untouchable, who were otherwise barred from using public wells. The PMC developed a memorial for Savitribai Phule nearby, approximately 150 meters from the Phule Wada. The civic body also established an auditorium, library, and childcare centre on the premises, designated as a “public and semi-public area”.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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