Pune's ex-mayor vows to tackle Mohammedwadi problems on priority

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator and former mayor,
Rajlakshmi Bhosale, has promised to address the chronic civic problems faced by residents of Mohammedwadi, in the south-eastern fringe of Pune.

Speaking at DNA’s ‘Your Locality, Your Voice’ interaction between corporators, locality residents and mohalla committee members on Sunday, Bhosale said she would be contesting Mohammedwadi Panel No 45 in the 2012 elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

While members of the Nyati County mohalla committee complained that the area had been neglected by the current corporator, Pramod (Nana) Bhangire, of the Shiv Sena, Bhosale assured that she would address the issues on priority as she plans to contest from this area.

As highlighted by DNA on Sunday, November 6  (‘Mohammedwadi needs better roads’), the main problems of Mohammedwadi include delay in completing the under-construction culvert on the NIBM-Undri Road, poor frequency of PMPML buses, need for road widening and laying of storm water drains on the NIBM-Undri Road and closure of a polluting brick kilns in the area.

The need for better garbage management and better water supply for Nyati Enclave was also stressed. Nyati County mohalla committee member, Capt Deepak Sethi, said failure to address these issues was rather distressing.

Bhosale said that following the delimitation exercise and the panel system, she would contest from the Mohammedwadi panel and would ensure that the problems were addressed. Taking points from a power point presentation made at the meet, Bhosale commented on the incomplete culvert and road issues between Palace Orchid and Undri Junction and said, “The development plan has all the roads planned. If elected, I will get after the PMC to speed up the work so that the residents won’t have to face the trouble.”
The Mohammedwadi bus service was started in August 2009 after the mohalla committee members followed it up, but the frequency of the bus is one every 1:45 hours, which is very low for an area with a high population. Bhosale said she has already had discussions with the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) and will follow up the issue after the elections.

About the polluting brick kilns near the Delhi Public School, Bhosale said if orders have been passed for relocating the kiln, she will look into the matter and take necessary action to get it shifted to the new location. Sethi and others intervened and emphasised that the orders have been passed, but were not being implemented.

Bhosale said the PMC was  doing a lot to improve the garbage system, but was not getting cooperation from housing societies. “You are all educated people, but we find that housing society members are not helping the PMC by segregating dry and wet garbage and following instructions that would result in better garbage management,” she said.