City fathers to chew more than they can bite!

The tale revolves round corporators Shivaji Kshirsagar, Anil Shirole, Shyam Satpute, Vilas Wadekar and Sanjay Balgude. They are apparently working overtime “for ensuring a better future for their chosen ones”.

And the “better” path ends, where else, but at the Pune Municipal Corporation. Making maximum use of their position, these city fathers have been forwarding letters for “consideration” of the civic standing committee. The letters seek shelter for the unemployed and handicapped. And it is here that Ghatpande has hit the bull’s eye through his public appeal.

Take the case of a letter written by Shivaji Kshirsagar and Anil Shirole dated August 27 forwarded to the standing committee for consideration on September 19. The resolution reads: “Shri Rajendra Vinayak Pathak residing at 292 Somwar Peth, Pune and Khalil Sayyed Shaikh residing at 1, Yerawada, both have financial difficulties and there is no earning member in their family, therefore 4 x 5 square feet area should be made available to each of them for their livelihood near Poona Club, opposite Dastur School”.

Another resolution moved by Shivaji Kshirsagar and Shyam Satpute states: “10 x 10 square feet area should be given to one crippled youth named Rajendra Shankar Edle on 11 months agreement for business purpose on Nagar Road”.

Yet another resolution moved by Sanjay Balgude and Vilas Wadekar proposes: “Srimati Chaya Jagdish Tatkar residing at 548 Shukrawar Peth, Shahapura, Pune-2 is a widow and is acquainted with us and she has no means to earn money. “Therefore, she should be given 20 x 20 square feet area for business purpose on long lease and on nominal rental basis at the eastern side of Sri Kala Krida Manch, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium”.

That’s not all. One more such resolution states that: “Sri Sarang Dyaneshwar Gadiwan residing at 634 Ghorpade Peth, Pune-42 is acquainted with us and is an educated unemployed and he has no means to earn money. So 15 x 25 square feet area should be given on long term basis and on nominal rental basis in between Hotel Pancham and S T Mahamandal staff quarters, near the wall, on Pune-Satara Road”.

The resolutions, which bring forth the ultimate “magnanimity”and “kindness” of our city fathers, have found favour with Ghatpande too. He has generously appealed to the public to seize this “golden opportunity” for their personal benefits. He has requested the public to send in their applications to him and he will personally forward them to the respective corporators.

He appeals in a sardonic note, “On the basis of the resolutions moved by city fathers Shivaji Kshirsagar, Anil Shirole, Shyam Satpute, Vilas Wadekar and Sanjay Balgude in the standing committee meetings, I invite applications from widows who have no earning members in their famiy; unemployed crippled youths who have no means to earn money; and educated unemployed youths who have no means to earn money”.

The only requirement is: “Acquaintance with one of the above mentioned city fathers. Don’t miss this opportunity. Hurry up. No charges for forwarding your applications. Address them to: Arvind Ghatpande, 82, Old Narayan Peth, Pune 411030”.

In a letter addressed to Ramesh Bodke, chairman, standing committee, Ghatpande shoots, “The resolutions speak volumes of the city fathers’ corrupted and selfish mind. They come together not for the welfare of the city but for the personal welfare of each city father.

“You become the looters and start to loot the property of Pune by distributing the same among your relatives, friends and special acquaintances.

“The city fathers who moved such illegal and irrelevant resolutions have not furnished any documentary evidence to show that their clients have no means to earn money. Mere acquaintance with a city father is not a qualification”.

While Ghatpande has warned Bodke to withdraw these resolutions immediately, he is eagerly awaiting applications that will come his way!