With the civic election on February 16, many citizens feel that the aspirants are unaware about the city’s development plan. Good transportation, better roads, saving the city’s greenery andproper garbage disposal system are some of the issues that need to be tackled quickly. Citizens Speak Up.
Parties’ manifestos are more or less the same
with minor differences
Citizens as well as the civic poll candidates very well know what the city needs. The basic responsibility of corporators is to keep the city clean and beautiful but if you enter any of their wards, you will witness overflowing drains, potholed roads, scattered garbage, broken footpaths and roads encroached. Political parties come up with their own manifestos but more or less they read the same, with few differences. Saying that corporators are unaware about the city’s developmental needs is like blaming ourselves, because we are the ones who elect them. The crucial need of this rapidly growing city is an effective public transport system, regular water supply and solution for city’s traffic woes. To have a metro for the city is a dream, which, if started, will be a new way to loot public funds.
—Ateeque Shaikh, city president, Yuvak Kranti Dal
Our green hills, rivers and the environment are under threat
Pune is the fastest growing city in the country. It is an IT hub and known as Oxford of the east. In this civic election, most of the candidates are new and I don’t think any of them have the slightest idea of the city’s development plan (DP). Our green hills, rivers and the environment are under threat. So far, none of the parties or candidates have spoken about the development plans and environment issues. The new candidates, especially, don’t know about the city’s development plans. Every citizen wants a good and clean life as they are fed-up of corruption. What the city needs is clean environment, good governance and a good development plan that does not favour any particular group such as the builders’ lobby.
—Gita Vir, founder member, National Society for Clean Cities
Make efforts to upgrade the public transport system of the city
The new candidates who are contesting the election must know about the development plans of the city. They should be aware about which projects have been completed or left halfway and if elected, it is their responsibility to complete the same. We should give a chance to these new candidates because they will bring a positive change. Pune’s basic issue is poor public transportation. Apart from this, heavy traffic causes chaos on city roads and this causes inconvenience to the citizens. The civic governance must be transparent and approachable for the common man. Lastly, localites face a lot of difficulties in getting admission to schools or colleges as a lot of outsiders come to this city to pursue higher studies. The corporators should look into all these matters.
—Raju Shrigiri, party worker
Candidates must do an in-depth study on the city’s infrastructure
With the upcoming civic polls, all the parties and the candidates are leaving no stone unturned, promising to work towards city’s development. But the ground reality is different. These candidates, including party leaders, only make tall claims. They make manifestos every year, but how many of them are really implemented? Are these candidates even striving to make the city clean, provide better roads and plant more trees?
Pune is not only limited to the Peth areas and the Pune Municipal Corporation must concentrate on other parts of the city. These candidates must do an in-depth study on the city’s infrastructure, transportation, roads, water supply and beautification and understand the city’s needs.
—Sunil Zagade, Citizen
Do these candidates plan to work towards betterment of the city?
When you represent a city, you have to work collectively for its development and not only for a particular ward. I have met many candidates, but very few are aware about the city’s development needs. What Pune needs is clean water, better roads, green zones being maintained and better transportation among others. As of now, the slum rehabilitation plan is in doldrums and nobody is sure if the city wants BRTS (bus rapid transit system) or metro. Also, the garbage disposal system of our city is in a bad state and the rivers that flow through the city are highly polluted. There are various issues that the city is facing right now. I want to ask whether these candidates are just making promises or will they work towards the betterment of the city?
—Deepak Baradia, coordinator, India Against Corruption
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