PCMC diary: Raj Thackeray pays a surprise visit,but keeps it apolitical

On Tuesday,the women’s wing of the Shiv Sena gheraoed the principal of an English medium school run by PCMC in Bhosari. The Sena alleged that basic amenities were lacking at the school. The PCMC had started the school in Bhosari in 2003,which has students upto Class VIII. The school has 13 teachers. The Shiv Sena complained that each class had 90 to 100 students making it tough for teaches to carry out their duties properly. The women activists of the party said garbage is piled up in huge mounds just outside the school,and the stink from it permeates into the school. It’s a threat to children’s health,they said. “Walls of classrooms have become weak. Windows are tattered,and since there is a shortage of benches students sit on the floor. Even enough chalks are not available for teachers,” they complained.

Maruti Bhapkar bats for ward sabhas,says it’s democratic

Stating that taxpayers are the real owners of the civic body,former corporator Maruti Bhapkar and a close associate of Anna Hazare has demanded that “ward sabhas” be allowed Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation wards. In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi and Mayor Mohini Lande,Bhapkar said participation of taxpayers in the decision-making process was of prime importance in a democratic set-up.

“You are taking decisions that affect the majority,without taking them into confidence. Therefore,before a corporator of a ward decides on implementing some scheme,he or she should take people into confidence. This can be done by holding ward sabhas that should pass resolutions with majority vote,” he said. Bhapkar said the PCMC should prepare a proposal for holding ward sabhas and place it before the civic general body meeting. “After approval of the civic general body,it should be sent to the state government for its green signal,” he said.