Sources say he left to take up his old job with the United Nations
Sources say he left to take up his old job with the United Nations
When Pune's well-loved Municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi suddenly resigned on Monday, the news came as a shock to the city.
While speculative theories regarding the reason behind his resignation flew thick and fast, MiD DAY uncovered the true, almost innocuous reason Pardeshi wanted to be with his family in Geneva, Switzerland.
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According to a source who did not wish to be named, Pardeshi was posted with the United Nations Development Programme in Geneva.
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"When the PMC received Rs 550 crore to repair the old Pune-Mumbai road under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi requested Pardeshi to shift to Pune in April 2007 and oversee the project.
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Now that the project is nearing completion, Pardeshi quit his post to return to Geneva where his wife and children have remained all along," said the source.
During his tenure, the high-profile Pardeshi made considerable effort to decentralise powers to ward officers. He was also proactive in public work.
For instance, to emphasise the need to fight pollution, Pardeshi cycled to office every Tuesday. Not surprisingly, citizens miss him.
"Pardeshi was open and transparent. We hope that the officer who takes Pardeshi's place emulates him in that respect," said Ranjeet Gadgil, project director of the NGO Janawani.
"Pardeshi inaugurated a non-motorised traffic cell at the PMC to assist pedestrians and cyclists. Such initiatives deserve to be made part of the system," he added.
Despite repeated attempts, Pardeshi could not be contacted.
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