PCMC participatory budget: Residents seek extension of deadline by a week

Residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad have demanded extension in deadline of filing suggestions for the participatory budget of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The deadline for citizens to file suggestions is October 25.

The citizens have also claimed that the PCMC did not announce on time the budget on its official website.

Nigdi-Pradhikaran Citizens Forum (NPSF) members expressed anger over PCMC’s communication gap. The forum members met municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi on Monday and submitted a letter to him.

The convenor of the forum, Amol Deshpande told dna, “We requested the civic chief to extend the deadline for inviting suggestions for participatory budget so that more citizens can get opportunity.”

The forum, in its letter, said that though the PCMC claimed that the citizens participatory budget was announced on October 4, but the information was never uploaded on its helpline or official website. There were few citizens aware of it and they have less time left for the deadline.

Deshpande added that many citizens have several queries about filing the forms of participatory budget and its submission. Due to lack of knowledge most of the forms get rejected.

The group requested Pardeshi to extend the deadline by a week for the sake of citizens and upload information on the website so that more citizens can take part. They also requested the civic body to take the lead to spread awareness among citizens about the participatory budget.

Citizens’ participation slowly increasing

The PCMC has slowly started getting response from citizens for the participatory budget. Citizens may suggest projects of up to Rs10 lakh in their respective localities.

The PCMC started inviting suggestions from citizens in 2007-08. In that year, only 18 suggestions were received. In 2008-09 there were 34 suggestions, in 2009-10, there were 66 suggestions. In 2010-11, there were 64 suggestions but in 2011-12 only 52 suggestions were received.

The suggestions may be sent regarding tree plantation, drainage, street lights, water supply, road condition, health, garbage, public toilets, gardens, jogging tracks, swimming pools, health clubs and senior citizens’ daycare centre, said civic officials.

Citizens may send their suggestions to respective ward offices. The zonal officer / ward officer and the executive engineer will verify the suggestions and the projects to assess their feasibility. The suggestions will be then be included in the municipal budget.