Pune Beat

A senior KMC official however informed the Indian Express that Gadchiroli collector Nitin Gadre will soon take over as municipal commissioner. Gadre is likely to arrive in Kolhapur on October 24 and will assume the charge on October 25, added the official.

Contractors seek probe
The Pune District Contractors Association, representing the government contractors, has submitted an application to the Samarth police station, seeking inquiry into the misappropriation of funds in the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation MKVDC.

Association president Shankarrao Takwale told media persons that MKVDC had cheated the contractors by not implementing the agreement which it had done with the contractors. Takwale said the MKVDC was expected to clear the bills within 15 days hours after their submission as per the agreement. The corporation, however, had failed to make payments for the past six months, he said.

Award for college
The Walchand Engineering College8217;s Tantra Niketan has been awarded the Narsi-Monjee award for the best technical wing in the State. This was announced in Mumbai, recently.

The award comprising a memento and citation will be presented at the Indian Technical Education Parishad8217;s national convention at Ludhiyana on November 21.

The technical wing presentation was given by the Tantra Niketan principal Sriram Kanitkar and training establishment officer Dinkar Dahake for the Trust8217;s panel of judges.

Mayor greets people at own expense
Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Hanumanth Bhosale has been stumped by the austerity measures of the State Government. Citing government directives, the civic administration has denied Bhosale the expenses on sending Diwali greetings.

Bhosale had asked the administration to provide 3000 cards. Displeased with the directive, Bhosale has himself borne the expenses.

Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Thakur said in a letter to Bhosale that no official expenditure could be incurred on sending Diwali greetings, as also during Christmas, New Year or any other festival occasion. The directive was issued by the finance department through a letter in October 1995.

Bhosale felt that it was the responsibility of the corporation to greet all citizens on important festive occasions. He has sent a letter to Thakur asking him to place hoardings at major junctions to greet people.

8220;The austerity measures seem to be improper. There is no curbing expenses on tours and visits of ministers and MLAs. Compared to the crores spent on civic projects, the PCMC expenses on greeting cards would have been a pittance. Actually, greeting cards should be sent jointly by the mayor and the commissioner,8221; he told The Indian Express.

This is the second time in the past fortnight that the administration and the Mayor have confronted each other on expenses. Earlier, Thakur had said the corporation would not spend on the tour of the Mayor and two elected office-bearers to Bremen. Bhosale said the expenses on the Bremen tour were 8220;only Rs 1.4 lakh for four persons.8221; As the corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bremen, Bhosale said, it was his duty to reciprocate the visit of Bremen office-bearers, who had visited Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Rajdhani Exp thrice a week
The frequency of 2429 Dn/2430 Up Bangalore-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Secundarabad Rajdhani Express has been increased from two days a week to three days a week with effect from December 1. The Bangalore Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani express will leave Bangalore from December 3 onwards on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday whereas the Hazrat Nizamuddin Bangalore Rajdhani express will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin from December 1 onwards on every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.

Chief Secretary8217;s visit to the city
State Chief Secretary P. Subramaniam visited different locations today to inspect the site for the proposed software technology park in the city.

Subramaniam visited Jail Road in Yerawada, Wakdewadi and Paud Road.