Locals from merged villages in PMC limits call out civic apathy

NCP corporator from the area seeks tax cuts; approach state, say officials

Accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities of showing apathy towards the 11 merged villages under the civic body limits, Ganesh Dhore, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator from the area, has demanded a tax waiver for the residents of the villages.

Stating that while the taxes they pay are eight times higher than what they were doling out earlier, locals have claimed that the civic body has failed in providing a single basic amenity to the citizens even after three years of incorporating them into the PMC fold. Citing these issues, residents have expressed their wish to go back under the gram panchayat tax bracket as they feel it offered them better management with lesser tax cuts.

PMC’s standing committee chairman Hemant Rasane has, however, stated that the decision cannot be taken at the level of the local body and the corporator should instead approach the state government with the demand.


Citizens rushing to get their jars filled with drinking water as the water tanker passes through the streets full of potholes outside their houses is a common sight in these villages. Although the water spilling from the tanker damages the roads and makes them muddy, citizens don’t have time to wait and ponder over the mess as chasing the tanker remains a priority since it will not return before another eight days. As the tanker moves ahead, residents try cleaning the accumulated puddle in front of their homes. The condition of the roads is so bad that even heavy and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) can barely find their way without getting damaged. Riding two-wheelers in these damaged stretches is another challenge. Heaps of garbage can be seen strewn around at multiple stretches. Since the PMC tankers barely suffice the drinking water needs of the villagers, tankers for utility purposes have to be called in separately by shelling out money from their own pockets. This apart, with no proper drainage system in place, calling in tankers for cleaning the septic tanks adds to their expenses. Residents said that while the quality of their lives has only worsened, the property tax they have to pay has, however, skyrocketed.

Explaining his plight, Machindra Barate, a resident of Ashirwad Nagar in Phursungi since the past six years, said, “We have to shell out close to Rs 1 lakh towards maintenance. This year, the annual tax levied by PMC was Rs 42,000. Apart from that, I have to pay Rs 1,000 every fortnight for cleaning our drainage tanks. Along with this, expense on water tanker is a recurring cost. Despite such hefty sums being drained out on basic amenities, we wonder where does all the tax money go?”

Shakuntala Shitole, another resident from Phursungi, added, “If we run out of water, the only option left to us is to go to Hadapsar and fetch water from there.”

Pravin Kad, another resident from the merged villages, rued, “During the rainy season, we literally have to tow our two-wheelers and resort to walking. Since the past three months, no garbage has been picked up. With the groundwater being contaminated, purchasing tanker water is the only way out. If we approach the PMC officials with our concerns, they merely ask us to pay our taxes. Although we live under the PMC limits technically, we hardly get to reap any of the civic benefits it has to offer.”

Interestingly, when the 11villages were merged within the PMC jurisdiction, it was announced that a sum of Rs 100 crore would be allocated for the developmental work that needed to be done in the area. But corporator Dhore has alleged that barely anything has been spent on those lines and demanded that PMC charge the taxes as per the gram panchayat rates. Speaking to Mirror, Dhore said, “Hardly 25 to 30 per cent work was been done in the central locations in the villages. With only two representatives representing such a large area, we hardly have funds to get works done. PMC only keeps giving excuses for the delay. If civic authorities are not going to provide us with basic amenities, then why should the citizens cough up hefty tax money? The regularisation work is also not being done. Hence I have suggested tax cuts to provide relief to the hapless citizens.”

When asked about the issue, PMC authorities, however, added that they are working towards providing the amenities to the locals. “We are committed and are working for developing better amenities in the villages. Detailed project reports are being prepared for various schemes such as water supply. We will grant funds too. But as far as the question of providing relief in taxes is concerned, it is not under PMC’s authority. We can only review if the taxes are being levied in a wrong manner. But we cannot take policy decisions. The corporator should approach his party, which is ruling in the state, for redressal,” shared Rasane.