Flashback 2018: PMC’s hits and flops in managing India’s most liveable city

Flashback 2018: PMC’s hits and flops in managing India’s most liveable city

Pune: Like every year, PMC has had its share of good and bad incidents in 2018. Water crisis was one of the most highlighted issues throughout the year in the city. In a national level survey, Pune emerged as the ‘most liveable city’ in India, which was a proud moment for all residents of the city. 

The city experienced ups and downs in the year such as controversies of bicycle scheme and parking policy, transfer of PMC commissioner Kunal Kumar and appointment of Saurabh Rao as new PMC chief, extension building roof leakage, Bhama Askhed water project, confrontation between PMPML MD Tukaram Mundhe and the PMC, breaching of right Mutha canal wall and hoarding collapse tragedy.  Here are some highlights of the year 2018 for Pune city. 
 
Water supply project
The year started with the controversy of floating tender of 24x7 water supply project. The company quoted more price on the estimated project cost. Due to heavy criticism of opposition and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators, the PMC commissioner revised the tender and then it was passed in General Body (GB) meeting. 

Parking Policy
Fixing parking charges under the parking policy and introducing bicycle plan were other major issues which PMC commissioner wanted to pass in the General Body meeting. Both were passed, but the original structure of policies was changed. The opposition parties  made an allegation of corruption against Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar in the 24x7 water supply project tender issue. 

New civic chief
PMC chief Kunal Kumar was deputed as Project Director of Central Government’s Smart City Mission. He completed maximum four years of his tenure as PMC commissioner. Afterwards, State government handed over the responsibility to District Collector Saurabh Rao. 
He has taken up the major issues like the city’s garbage and traffic problems and is working towards solving these problems.

Water crises?
Despite sufficient rainfall, Pune city faced water cut during Diwali. People expressed their resentment over the water cuts during the festive season. But, the administration went ahead with the decision of water cuts. The issue is still going on and now, the civic body has decided to appeal to the State government to increase water quota based on the current population. Rao resolved a long-pending issue to restart Bhama-Askhed water supply project to east part of the city. It was stuck from last one year due to  villagers agitation. 

Lest we forget
- Incidents like hoarding collapse tragedy,  right Mutha canal wall breach, fire incident at Patil Estate slum were a big blot on the face of PMC. Four persons lost their lives when a hoarding collapsed near Mangalwar Peth in October. 
- Though there was no human casualty involved in breaching of Mutha canal which flooded the entire area or the Patil estate fire incident in which many shanties were gutted, they still left a question mark on the way the matters are being handled. An inquiry is on in both the cases. 

Silver Lining
Chandni Chowk flyover project got funds from the State government to acquire land was a positive thing as the project was delayed for more than a year due to lack of funds for acquisition of land. The State government approved Rs 185 crore for land acquisition. 

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