Pune: Controversy Arises Over Rs 200 Crore Drainage Fund Allocation Favoring BJP MLAs Areas

Pune, 31st August 2024: The Maharashtra Government had approved ₹200 crores for the boundary walls of major drainage systems in Pune City. However, it has come to light that this money was allocated only to constituencies in Pune where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs are in power. However, no funds were allocated to the remaining three constituencies where non-BJP MLAs are in power.

Five years ago, in 2019, heavy rains caused flooding in Ambil Odha, a major natural drainage system in Pune. Floodwater entered many housing societies, damaging the boundary walls of some. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has constructed walls and bridges in certain areas. However, due to technical reasons, the PMC has not been able to complete the necessary work of building boundary walls to prevent flooding from the drains. The Maharashtra Government has allocated a special fund of ₹200 crores to the PMC for this purpose.

The PMC, for some reason, decided to allocate the ₹200 crore fund from the Maharashtra Government ‘exclusively’ to the five constituencies where BJP MLAs are in power. The Drainage Department of PMC had issued five tenders for the construction of boundary walls to prevent drain water from entering housing societies. However, since the rules were not followed in these tenders, the Pune District Collector’s office raised objections. Following that, the PMC submitted a revised proposal to the Pune District Collector’s office for approval after making the necessary amendments.

While issuing tenders for these works, the PMC administration referenced a list of pending projects in constituencies where BJP MLAs are in power, as provided by the Maharashtra Government. The allocated funds are ₹41.23 crores for Khadakwasla Constituency, ₹41.15 crores for Parbati, ₹19.90 crores for Kothrud, ₹24.80 crores for Shivajinagar, and ₹39.04 crores for Cantonment Constituency. However, not a single rupee has been allocated to Wadgaon Sheri and Hadapsar Constituencies, where MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP are in power, or to Kasba Peth Constituency, where Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar serves.

Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Commissioner of PMC, said, “The Maharashtra government has approved a fund of ₹200 crores for city drains. Administrative approval has been obtained from the Collector. The Maharashtra Government has provided the PMC with a list of works for five constituencies, according to which the projects will be carried out.”