Residents upset with Pune Municipal Corporation’s pagoda plan

The Vimannagar Development Council (VNDC), the area’s mohalla committee, has expressed serious differences with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) over the construction of an eight-pillar pagoda that is coming up in the centre of Jogger’s Park in Vimannagar.

The residents, represented by the VNDC, are upset that the only patch of open green land in a concrete jungle of almost 130 registered housing societies will vanish after the construction of the pagoda.

They said this will destroy the designated play area for children under 6 years that existed from the park’s inception in 2003.

“There are many small societies, even right opposite the park, that have no gardens for children. How can the PMC take an overnight decision to construct a concrete structure in the middle of the park? It will lead to a congestion and reduction of the green zone,” said Shams Mithani, member of the VNDC.

The proposed pagoda plan is dated February 24 and the construction began almost immediately. Work was halted twice due to the intervention of VNDC members, but resumed on March 16.

Bhanudas Mane, zonal commissioner (II) who also had a long innings as the garden superintendent of the PMC, said that the structure was demanded by a section of people in the locality. However, he failed to specify who they were.

When told that the mohalla committee was against the construction, he said, “There are two factions in the area, one for and one against the pagoda.”

Sarita Kak, mother of a 3-year-old, said, “The children’s play area was a boon as another children’s area has swings for older children and the entire walking path doesn’t leave much space for them to play in. If this area goes, I and many mothers like me won’t have a place to take our kids to.”

VNDC chairman R Mansharamani said that the council would like to know where the money came from for such a construction. “Why is the PMC wasting public money on a structure that will have no utility and is not needed?” he said.

VNDC members said the structure is not needed as there are already two other structures, which include a library and a hall where senior citizens conduct yoga classes.

The VNDC was able to get the PMC to reserve a large piece of rocky and barren land near the Symbiosis International School for the purpose of a garden to serve the need of growing locality.

This garden has a sanctioned designated area for senior citizens as well.

In 2005, they began corresponding with the PMC with requests to reserve almost 4.5 acres for a garden, which was finally taken over by the PMC garden department on December 4, 2008.

“Excavations in that area have begun. PMC should spend its resources developing the second garden in the area,” said PP Acharya of VNDC.

VNDC members said the mohalla committee’s views on the matter have not been considered.