The five-year term of the current general body will end in three months, on February 15 next year. (File) Months ahead of civic polls, corporators representing different political parties in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) unanimously approved the proposal to allow distribution of hand bags, buckets and benches worth Rs 10 lakh from civic body funds.
Due to the financial crunch during the pandemic, the civic administration had earlier put a ban on purchase of hand bags, buckets and benches from PMC funds – a decision met with stiff opposition from corporators across all parties.
The five-year term of the current general body is to end in three months from now, on February 15, 2022, following which civic polls will be held to elect corporators for the next term.
During the general body meeting on Monday, the civic administration proposed that Rs 5 lakh each could be used for distribution of hand bags and buckets, and benches to be installed at various societies and community places, among the public.
Without holding any discussion, the corporators gave an immediate nod to the proposal. The decision is likely to cost the civic body Rs 16 crore considering there are 164 corporators in the present general body.
In the past, there was a controversy over purchase of benches due to allegation of corruption in procuring them from ward development funds of PMC.
Objecting to the PMC decision, civic activist Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said, “The corporators are being allowed to spend Rs 10 lakh each on unnecessary things. Earlier, the corporators had distributed jute bags worth Rs 11.5 crore with their name on it so as to discourage the public from using plastic bags. However, the use of plastic bags continues to take place. Similarly, the PMC has put up thousands of benches across the city in last few years. The civic administration should verify their condition and existing status before purchasing new benches.”
Velankar requested municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar to use his special powers to cancel the decision and “save public money”.
“If you are not able to cancel the decision then at least ensure that the names of the corporators do not appear on bags, buckets or benches,” he added.
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