Bhatia charges 8212; Quick probe assured

The delegation which met Joshi later claimed that they had been assured that the probe would be completed and the report submitted to the Government within a month. A copy of the memorandum has also been sent to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

In their memorandum, the city activists stated: 8220;The matter of 19 charges levelled against the corporators of the PMC on grounds of grave mismanagement of the city8217;s funds allotted for development schemes and the flagrant violation of accepted norms of transparency, accountability, and good governance has been taken extremely seriously by us and we have been following the course of events on a day to day basis.8221;

8220;We look forward to a fair enquiry and the announcement of its result in the shortest period of time given the importance of the issues involved. It is expected that a comprehensive reply will be provided for each charge levelled and the findings of the enquiry made public, accompanied by full explanations, in a language that the common citizen can understand. If, a we expect, the charges stand proved, the general body should stand dissolved without further delay and its powers vested with an alternative body an administrator at the earliest as provided for under the relevant BPMC Act.

The convoluted affairs of the PMC, one of the richest corporations in Maharashtra, has been the subject of attention for the wrong reasons past several years. All the efforts made to ameliorate the situation has fallen on deaf ears of the State Government. Now that the citizens of Pune have woken and intend to ensure that this unacceptable state of affairs will come to an end, any attempt at sidetracking or whitewashing or protecting the general body from any quarter for any reason, will be shown up and recognised for what it is.

The citizens of Pune will hail any enquiry which is conducted without fear or favour or succumbing to the dictates of different agendas. They are confident that this responsible task will be undertaken by you in the right spirit.8221;

The signatories to the memorandum include People for Pune, Citizen8217;s Action Group, Nari Samta Manch, Ecological Society of India, Bhrashtachar Pratibandh Manch, Aundh Vikas Mandal, People8217;s Union for Civil Liberties, Kalpavriksh, Urban Heritage Committee, Pune Civic Line, Residents8217; Forum and Gangotri.