Months after their completion, new PMC gardens developed using taxpayer money yet to be thrown open to public, reveals RTI query
Months after their completion, new PMC gardens developed using taxpayer money yet to be thrown open to public, reveals RTI query
Twentyu00a0new municipal gardens in the city are yet to be thrown open to the public, reportedly for want of politicians to inaugurate them. A query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that even though a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) garden around Kedari Nagar in Wanawadi was completed six months ago, it is yet to begin letting people in. There are 19 other PMC gardens that have been similarly left hanging in the air, supposedly because municipal authorities are waiting for our leaders to give a little bit of their precious time for their opening.
Opening hanging in air: The garden at Kedari Nagar in Wanawadi.
Though the garden was ready six months ago, it's supposedly waiting
for Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to inaugurate it. Pic/renuka suryavanshi
Now activists are alleging that the delay is on purpose as parties want to open these gardens as close as possible to next year's civic elections. For the inauguration of the garden in Wanawadi, local NCP corporator Ratnaprabha Jagtap is said to be adamant on roping in Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The RTI query also revealed that the PMC spent Rs 86.69 crore for developing gardens since 2005.
"The PMC says that Pune is a city of gardens, but it has not done anything for the public. People are waiting to visit the gardens. The summer vacation for most schools are over," said Omkar Vahikar, an RTI activist.
Vahikar, who received the RTI reply three days ago from the PMC, said work had been going on in these gardens for the last seven years. "The garden department is not ready to furnish information as to why they are dawdling in inaugurating the gardens," he said.
Social activist Vaibhav Gandhi alleged the delay in inauguration was deliberate as politicians wanted the gardens to be thrown open to the public as close to the civic polls as possible for electoral gains. "If the gardens are inaugurated by a politician from a certain party just before the PMC election, it creates an impression that the party is doing a lot of good for the people," said Gandhi.
Jyotsna Kamat, a resident of Wadgaon Sheri, said people were not allowed inside the new garden near her place. "The garden under the Wadgaon Bridge on Sinhagad road is ready, but we are not allowed to go in, as it is yet to be inaugurated. I live nearby and my kids ask me to take them there. The security guards have barred people from entering the garden," said Kamat.
Local NCP corporator Vikas Dangat said the PMC had not stopped amble lovers from entering the garden.
"It is true that the garden is yet to be inaugurated, but we are not stopping people from entering it. I shall ask the security guards to allow people inside the garden," said Dangat.
The 20 gardens
Garden near Kedari Nagar, Anand Park, Pashan Akhhada, Kamthe Udyan, Ramtekdi Udyan, Jeetendra Abhishike Udyan, Sant Dnyaneshwar Udyan, Alakapuri Udyan, Morya Udyan, Vimannagar Udyan, Onkareshwar Temple Udyan, Valvekar Udyan, Panchavati Udyan, Indiranagar Udyan, Varje Udyan and gardens in Sarita Nagar, Wadgaon Budruk, Tingrenagar, Maharashtra Housing Board and Koregaon Park.
The Other Side
Bhanudas Mane, Deputy Commissioner (Garden), PMC, said the gardens were completed about six months ago. "We can't throw them open unless they are formally inaugurated. The gardens will be thrown open within three months, as the civic polls are just eight months away. The first inauguration is on May 19 at Alakapuri, Kothrud," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
