Tatkare too bats for Metro,says funds should not be a problem

Pune should have a Metro. If people are talking about the high cost of implementing it now,the cost would grow to prohibitive levels in the next 20-25 years.

Pune should have a Metro. If people are talking about the high cost of implementing it now,the cost would grow to prohibitive levels in the next 20-25 years. Cost should not be a reason for not taking up a development project, Finance Minister Sunil Tatkare said here on Sunday.

Tatkare was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Maharashtra State Public Prosecutors Associations (MSPPA) conference. He said cities like Pune and Mumbai were growing rapidly. This has given rise to issues like traffic and transportation problems for lakhs of people everyday. There is a need for projects like Metro to be undertaken for the development of the cities.

On the state government share of Rs 1,200 crore as envisaged by the Pune Municipal Corporation,Tatkare said he was not aware of the financial details of the project and the assistance sought.

On why the government had not given its share of grants to the local self-government bodies on time,Tatkare said,We would look into the issue as to why Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri- Chinchwad Municipal Corporation were not getting grants for projects being implemented under JNNURM.

On the demands of public prosecutors,Tatkare said,Assistant public prosecutors have demanded that they be paid according to Rs 8,000-13,500 pay scales mentioned in the Fifth Pay Commission. Once I get the proposal,I will approve it. The demands of the assistant public prosecutors have to be considered as they provide an important service to society. It is the assistant public prosecutors who present the case before the trial court and give legal guidance to the poor.

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