Pune: Lack of Manpower at Newly Formed Fursungi and Uruli Devachi Municipal Council; PMC to Provide Basic Amenities

Pune, 24th September 2024: In the run-up to the Legislative Assembly elections, the Maharashtra state government hastily decided to exclude Fursungi and Uruli Devachi from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and form a Municipal Council. However, the newly formed council is facing a manpower shortage, with no employees appointed yet. It is expected to take considerable time to fill these positions. Meanwhile, the PMC has been directed to continue providing basic amenities to both villages.

In 2017, the state government had included 11 villages, including Fursungi and Uruli Devachi, within the PMC’s jurisdiction. After this inclusion, unauthorized warehouses and sheds in these areas were levied property taxes and fines, which in some cases amounted to lakhs of rupees.

Citizens grew increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of facilities provided by the PMC and the start of tax collections. Former State Minister Vijay Shivtare held a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, advocating for the exclusion of these villages from the PMC. Although the decision was made in the first meeting, the official announcement was delayed.

On 11th September, ahead of the upcoming election code of conduct, an order was finally passed to exclude Fursungi and Uruli Devachi from the PMC and form their own Municipal Council.

However, with no manpower in place to manage the new council, the Urban Development Department issued another order on 23rd September, assigning the PMC to provide basic services in the meantime.

Since the council is newly established, it will take time to approve office layouts, secure funding, and finalize other operational details. To prevent disruptions in essential services for residents, the order specifies that the PMC will continue providing basic amenities until the infrastructure transfer process is complete.

A committee has been formed to oversee the transfer of infrastructure and civic services to the joint Municipal Council of Fursungi and Uruli Devachi. The Divisional Commissioner will serve as the chairman, with the Collector and Municipal Commissioner as members. The City Council administrator will act as the member secretary. The committee has been tasked with inspecting the infrastructure in these two villages and preparing a roadmap for the transfer of facilities.