PMC takes up slum devp ontop priority

PUNE, JUNE 16: The standing committee of Pune Municipal Corporation on Tuesday finally rejected Arun Bhatia's proposal of reallocation of...

PUNE, JUNE 16: The standing committee of Pune Municipal Corporation on Tuesday finally rejected Arun Bhatia8217;s proposal of reallocation of Rs 38 crore in the civic budget. The committee, however, decided to modify Bhatia8217;s proposal after conducting survey of all 400 slums in the city.

Committee chairman Arun Dhimdhime told media persons that most of the members, though in agreement with the works suggested by Bhatia, opposed the reallocation of funds 8220;which were affecting several development works.8221; He said the committee has asked the administration to undertake the work of slum development envisaged in the civic budget on top priority. He said there is a provision of Rs 11 crore for slum development in the budget.

Dhimdhime said the committee had decided to conduct on the spot survey of all the slums to identify the requirements like underground drainage, toilets and water supply of every slum. The committee members, along with the civic officials, would visit the slums. The slum dwellers and local corporators would be taken into confidence while submitting the fresh proposal, he said.

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad told media persons that he would submit a fresh proposal to initiate slum development after receiving necessary information and feedback from the standing committee.

Gaikwad said each slum might have its own priorities, which have to be identified before inclusion in the civic budget. He said he would be giving top priority to the slum development.

Gaikwad said he was seriously considering shifting Kothrud garbage depot to Undri Pisoli instead of Yeolewadi where two massive stone quarries could accommodate garbage. He said he had personally visited the site and had asked the administration to collect the information of that site.

The municipal commissioner said he would call for land acquisition even if it was private. He said the site also had approach road unlike at Yeolewadi.

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Gaikwad said shifting of garbage depot was his top priority and he would submit a fresh proposal within a week.