PMC approves Mutha Beautification Plan

Keeping track of this week's snakes and ladders score:UP:The Mutha river, with the Pune Municipal Corpo ration PMC standing committee fina...

Keeping track of this week8217;s snakes and ladders score:
UP:
The Mutha river, with the Pune Municipal Corpo ration PMC standing committee finally approving the Rs 150-crore Mutha river beautification plan after a delay of over a year. On the anvil are features like an open-air riverside theatre, floating restaurants, a business centre and an amusement park.

Shree Ganesh Kala Krida Rangamanch, the city8217;s largest open-air theatre in the vicinity of the Nehru Stadium, as its sprawling 42,000 sq ft of area will now be entirely covered by a spanking new 40-feet high stainless steel roof. Come rain or shine, functions can continue uninterrupted at this venue, without prior checking with the weather office, of course!

The traffic scene in Pune, with the PMC standing committee approving an administrative proposal recommending a blanket ban on parking of private tourist buses on the city roads. The ban is to be imposed immediately after the civic general body clears the proposal by the month8217;s end. Hopefully, the flow of traffic will now get the space it needs.

Social organisations in Maharashtra, as the Action for Agricultural Renewal in Maharashtra AFARM launches its website on the internet, with the aim to empower these organisations. Till now, 20 organisations have been included with details about their history, setup, area of work and research, and another 115 have been classified in various categories. More power to them, virtually!

Clear roads and cleaner environs, as the anti-encroachment squad of the PMC removed the unauthorised eateries on Pashan Road near the University Circle Chowk. Not only were these eateries proving to be a traffic problem with the crowd of people who stopped by for a bite, they also posed a health hazard with the improper disposal of garbage. Cleanliness is next to the Univ Circle, we pray!

The State Reserve Police Force and its environment consciousness, as the shramdaan efforts of the men bore fruit with the transformation of a barren dumping ground into a scenic spot of verdure at the foothills of Ramtekdi. Guns and now roses too!

The ICSE schools in the city, as their students proved their mettle by recording 100 per cent passing result in the Std X exams conducted this March.

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DOWN:
The educational status of foreign students in the city, as the University of Pune8217;s International Students Centre cancelled the admissions of over 200 foreign undergraduate students studying at various colleges. Despite reasons such as eligibility, lack of medical fitness certificates and inability to clear the English proficiency test being cited, this action has resulted in a furore amongst the student community.

Pune8217;s heritage, as a mammoth construction continues to come up in the premises of the Adishwar Mahajan Jain Mandir. This is despite the heritage value of the temple being determined because of its wooden facade done in Maratha architectural style.

Pune8217;s heritage again, which received a further blow in the light of the Mobo8217;s Hotel building being demolished by the PMC, considering the threat it posed to the lives of over 300 people working there and the daily stream of visitors. Had the finalisation of the heritage list prepared in 1991 not been delayed so, the story of the Mobo8217;s Hotel could, perhaps, have had a different and hopefully happier ending.