NCP MLAs step up pressure,PCMC admin defiant,says development on track

Minutes after NCP leaders met Pawar on Saturday,speculation was rife they had sought the ouster of the municipal commissioner. However,MLA Vilas Lande said,“No,we have not sought his exit. All we want is that structures of poor people be not demolished. The Pardeshi administration should concentrate on development work.”

Behl too denied they pressed for Pardeshi’s ouster. “We did not discuss Pardeshi’s transfer. We requested our leaders to ensure the government announces a firm policy on illegal structures. We pointed out that development work has been affected as the administration is focusing on illegal structures,” Behl said.

The civic chief refuted allegations that his administration had given development the skip. In the same breath,he said there would be no slackening of pace of the drive against illegal structures. “There will be no interval in the drive… we have to take action as per laid down norms and directives of the court.”

Pardeshi said it would be wrong to say his administration failed to push development work. He said during his tenure,PCMC earned Rs 200 crore more revenue. “Besides,capital expenditure which was Rs 537 crore has risen to Rs 587 crore. We spent more funds on JNNURM projects than in the past,” he said. Significantly,civic officials said PCMC has reserved more funds for development of under-developed areas in the budget.

The PCMC administration said that in the past one year,three JNNURM projects have been completed,the science project has kicked off and the Tourism Development Policy has been put in place. “In three-five years,PCMC will be a major tourist attraction. We will develop tourism spots in the constituencies of the three MLAs,” the administration said.

Civic officials said they reviewed revenue collection,property tax and building permission departments. “We have taken certain decisions concerning these departments to help us get revenue,though it would be dented till LBT system stabilises,” an official said.

Pardeshi said industries are happy with LBT rates. “It was because of the PCMC initiative that the state government agreed to our rates. PCMC is alive to problems of the industrial sector. We will help MCCIA on the demand for management of auto clusters and setting up effluent treatment plants.”

He said,“Whether acquiring defence land for BRTS projects,implementing health vision,or revamping the recruitment policy,my administration has been quick in resolving issues. The decisions have been taken in consultation with MLAs and office-bearers. Where is the question of development getting stuck?”