Ajanthanagar slum dwellers demand inquiry into project

PUNE, Nov 8: A section of hutment dwellers in Ajanthanagar at Akurdi have alleged that some families were deliberately being left out from t...

PUNE, Nov 8: A section of hutment dwellers in Ajanthanagar at Akurdi have alleged that some families were deliberately being left out from the proposed rehabilitation project of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

The aggrieved residents have submitted a memorandum to Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Thakur stating that the survey of families at Ajanthangar slums was being carried out in an improper way wherein original hutment dwellers were left out from the list of the rehabilitation project. The memorandum said that the ration cards, photo passes issued by the corporation and voters8217; list should have been the base for identifying the original residents staying in the slum area.

According to the residents, the names of some persons were being deliberately added to the list of the beneficiaries by making false documents. A group of residents also met Additional Commissioner R.B. Konde and appraised him of the matter. Konde is said to have told the residents to identify only the original residents staying in the area.

The residents demanded that an inquiry be conducted into the survey work and initiate penal action against the guilty persons. They also demanded that a fresh survey be conducted to identify the original residents.

The project envisages provision of tenements to 2,400 families and also upgrading civic facilities in the area. The work is expected to incur an expenditure of nearly Rs 12 crore.

Meanwhile, several social organisations were said to be eager to give financial aid to the corporation for improvement of civic facilities in the slums. The Mata Amrutanandamayi Math at Akurdi has submitted a proposal to Mayor Hanumant Bhosale and said that it was ready to give financial aid to the corporation. The memorandum was submitted by Swami Vidya Amrutanandpuri.

Konde who was also present said that the corporation was making efforts to get financial assistance from the state social welfare department for upgrading civic facilities in slum areas.