Pune electors raise local issues through 'citizens' manifestos'

With the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 just around the corner residents of Pune have drafted their own set of demands as part of citizens manifestos to highlight basic issues and have urged candidates to address them in their manifestos reported news agency PTIKey concerns dominating these charter of demands include lack of proper water supply poor road infrastructure encroachments traffic snarls improper sewage systems noise pollution frequent power outages and the need for the implementation of development plans DPsThe Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23Residents of Mohammadwadi and Undri in south Pune under the aegis of a local welfare forum have created their own manifesto to address the longstanding civic issues related to inadequate water supply frequent power outages traffic problems waste disposal and management encroachments and lack of police patrolling at night reported PTIThey claim that more than 18 years have passed without reliable basic amenities in more than 60 housing societies across the area especially when it comes to water supplyWith no piped water from the Pune Municipal Corporation these societies have been forced to rely on private water tankers collectively spending crores of rupees annuallySunil Aiyer resident of Nyati Chesterfield a highend bungalow society perched on a hilltop in Undri claimed he has lived in the area for more than 20 years without seeing an appreciable improvement in basic amenities reported PTIThere are no proper roads no water supply no continuous power no open spaces or grounds for children and the elderly Weve followed up with all authorities including the civic body lawmakers MLAs and MPs but unfortunately our efforts have been in vain To add to our woes there have been no civic elections for a long time Aiyer told PTI on SundayFrustrated residents also considered boycotting the polls even putting up no water no vote boards outside their societies but eventually decided to give candidates a chance to address their concerns by presenting them the manifestoIts been 20 years without adequate water supply forcing us to collectively spend crores on private tanker operators who dominate the area leaving us with no choice Aiyer told PTIAnother local Sunil Koloti a key member of the MohammadwadiUndri Residents Welfare Development Foundation also rued that they have been paying taxes to the civic body while living without basic amenities for 18 years reported PTIResidents of Mohammadwadi and Undri in south Pune are urgently calling for the basic infrastructure improvements as the area suffers from critical deficiencies in municipal water roads sewage and street lighting Despite over 18 years of residential growth and significant tax contributions these neighborhoods are still without fundamental services he claimed reported PTIVaidehi Suryavanshi another resident said they have presented their manifesto to the two local Purandar seat candidates Sambhaji Zende of the NCP Ajit Pawar faction and Vijay Shivtare of the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urging them to prioritise these issues reported PTIThe residents have also invited Congress sitting MLA from Purandar seat Sanjay Jagtap for discussionsShivtares daughter who accepted the manifesto on his behalf said both longterm and shortterm solutions to the water supply issue were discussedFor the Development Plan well coordinate with the civic body and local representatives to resolve it in the coming months Besides water and DP issues road conditions and power outages are also problems we aim to address within a month or two she added reported PTINCP candidate and former IAS officer Zende noted the impact of rapid urbanisation and population pressure on the cityThe Development Plan for the extended city is not yet prepared Once it is implemented issues related to roads water and other infrastructure will be resolved he said reported PTIRegarding the water problem the PMC must address it as water is available but proper distribution is missing Ive consistently raised this issue and we have agitated for it The municipal corporation has promised to look into these issues after the elections he added reported PTIResidents of Kalyani Nagar on Sunday organised a Know Your Candidates meet where people discussed their concerns and presented a comprehensive charter of demands focused on infrastructure improvements water supply waste management traffic pollution control and governance to poll nominees from the Vadgaon Sheri constituency under which the area fallsBesides pressing for infrastructure issues like lack of proper roads traffic management stormwater drains and sewage lines we demanded a tankerfree Kalyani Nagar We also requested that no liquor licenses be issued in residential areas Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar citizens forum chairperson Rachna Agarwal said reported PTIIn the Kothrud constituency citizens of Baner Balewadi and Pashan areas have been taking a feedback from people to compile a charter of demands which would be handed over to the local candidatesThis document will serve as a tool to hold our elected representatives accountable ensuring the policies they implement truly reflect the needs and desires of our community said advocate S O Mashalkar a member of the local residents forum reported PTIWith inputs from PTI