The idea of having a gym and a library was discussed at various levels in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in last few years but no concrete steps were taken. Now some of the elected representatives are pushing the idea and the civic administration is all positive about it. "It is a good suggestion and a necessity. We would work out on the proposal," municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi told TOI on Monday.

"The idea has been in discussion in the last few years but there was no concrete action taken. The civic body should have a library where not only municipal acts but even other books are available for reading and reference. We would definitely push forward the idea so that the library comes up at the civic headquarters," said senior NCP corporator Ajit Apte. He added that the proposal to start yoga classes for the corporators and the civic staff was initiated but the idea never became a reality for some reason or the other. "This time we would ensure that a library and a gym is set up in the PMC building," said Apte.

Opposition parties are in full support of the proposal. "These are essential facilities that the civic body should have," said BJP corporator Ujwal Keskar who added that as the functioning of the civic body is decentralised, the PMC should put in efforts to set up libraries in ward offices as well.

Leader of the house and NCP corporator Anil Bhosale said that his party was not averse of the idea. "Before implementing it, we will have discussions with all party leaders," said Bhosale.

But the common man has another take on the matter. "It is a welcome idea if these facilities are going to attract city fathers to the corporation. Otherwise they are hardly seen in the civic headquarters," quipped Nana Puranik a senior citizen.

The assistance will be given for each year of their college studies.

The financial support will be to the extent of Rs 15,000 for those who've passed standard X and Rs 25,000 for those who have passed standard XII.

Speaking to reporters, leader of the house Anil Bhosale and Congress party leader in PMC Aba Bagul said that it was a historic decision taken by the PMC.

NCP corporator Ajit Apte said one of the important criteria is that the student getting the assistance should perform consistently and score 80 per cent marks every year of college.

"And the amount of Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 is a ceiling amount. The support will depend on the fees of the respective college the students studies in. It could be less than the amount fixed," Apte said.

He also pointed out that students who are already availing benefit through a similar scheme of the state government will not be entertained.

"Application forms for the scheme will be available at all the 14 ward offices within a few days," Apte said.

The other conditions laid by the civic body is that the students should be a resident in the PMC limits for last three years, that only one child in the family will be able to avail the benefit and that there should not be more than two children in the family born after June 1, 2001. There are no castebased conditions put forth.

The PMC plans to implement the scheme under its Maulana Abul Kalam Azad education scheme and Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe education scheme for which Rs 4 crore have been set aside in the municipal budget for 2008-09.

Although a section of the corporators were irked over the plan to provide support from the schemes meant for the backward classes, they were assured by party leaders that funds will be diverted for the scheme from other projects.

For the purpose of this beautification, PMC has allocated Rs 40 crore in the budget and many of the beautification tasks are going to be carried on BOT basis.

Pune mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale held a joint meeting on Thursday with the heads of political parties in PMC. While explaining what measures the PMC is going to undertake she urged the citizens to give a positive image of the city before the foreign delegates and participants, who will be landing in the city from over 72 countries.

"During the CYG event, Pune is going to represent India before the foreign delegates. Therefore, more than the PMC, the onus is on the citizens to keep the city clean and leave a positive imprint of the country in the minds of foreign delegates. Among many other things, not spitting at public places and on roads, helping the foreign delegates are some of the things that the citizens can come forward to," Bhosale said.

"We want to make use of the CYG event for bringing in good things for the city, which will be of use in the long run, even after the CYG event," she said. Major roads, chowks, gardens and parks, flyovers are going to be adorned for the event. PMC will also install signages, LCD screens at 25 places, 50 CYG countdown clocks, hoardings, which will propagate about the mega-event. The PMC is also going to plant 10 lakh saplings.

The realisation dawned that PCMC never had a sports policy at the first meeting of the newly constituted sports committee held last week where the members expressed their annoyance and called for urgent steps to create basic sports infrastructure and improve the existing facilities. "The committee has directed the administration to submit a draft of the sports policy," said civic sports committee chairman Ghanshyam Khedekar. "Once they submit the draft, we will make necessary changes after due deliberations with all concerned," he said.

According to committee member Babu Nair, PCMC holds only one major tournament -- the Mayor's Trophy. "We have been shocked by the raw deal given to sports in the town. That exactly is the reason why not many sports persons come to limelight from Pimpri-Chinchwad," he said.

Nair, also a Congress leader, said that it was a matter of concern that PCMC is not even thinking along the lines of schools like Jnana Prabhodhini that were sending children to foreign shores to train for Olympics. "It is important that a concrete sports policy be put in place so that in the next 10 years we could see children from Pimpri-Chinchwad shining at international level," Nair said.

However, PCMC sports in-charge, Vishnu Jadhav, said that PCMC has a sports policy that keeps changing every year. "As per the new committee and new chairman, the policy keeps changing. We hold one Mayor's Trophy tournament, and 52 State Government-directed events for school children throughout the year," he said, adding that he will be submitting the year's planning before the committee.

But Nair disagrees. "By sports policy, we don't mean holding matches and tournaments. Sports policy means promoting younger generations who could represent the country and become everyone's pride," he said.

The committee, he said, is looking at a policy that is all-encompassing. "Our policy should be aimed at identifying and encouraging sports talent, bringing about drastic improvement in existing facilities, increase the basic infrastructure across the town. It is also important that facilities match the atmosphere of a particular suburb."

For instance, he said, Bhosari is a hub for wrestlers. "So it is important that better wrestling facilities are put in place there. And in Pradhikaran you will find, badminton enthusiasts in large numbers. So there should more badminton courts in Pradhikaran," Nair said, adding that increased budget layout is also required to shore up the sports scenario in town.

Uday Bhalchandra, vice-president of the Pune District Table Tennis Association, points out that a large number of table tennis enthusiasts from Pimpri-Chinchwad regularly come to Pune to participate in matches and tournaments.

"Pimpri-Chinchwad lacks decent facilities for table tennis compared to Pune as there are only two major clubs and a few halls. Besides, there is need for coaching. Expert services should be roped in to train youngsters. If proper infrastructure is provided, the youth can undoubtedly make it big," said Bhalchandra.

At present, the PCMC spends Rs 25 lakh a year on sports related activity. It has two stadiums and eight grounds.

I strongly advocate that in addition to the mega plans of introducing BRT and Skybus systems , Pune city needs dedicated tracks for all 2 wheelers.

This will definitely ease the chaotic traffic scene in Pune mainly caused by free-wheeling 2 wheeler riders who create their own driving rules.

We better know what Mr. Ajit Pawar has made of MKVDC. The contractors and emloyees of MKVDC Pune had rallies in Pune with taking katora in hands and begged for delayed payments.

Municipal Corporation Nitin Kareer forwarded a proposal to the PMC’s Standing Committee to permit Infotech Pvt Ltd to run the project on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis. If the proposal is approved by the civic body, citizens will have to pay Rs 125 for the change in name and Rs 1.25 for printed copies of the same.

After getting the properties — sold or purchased — authorised from the office of sub-registrar, citizens can give their applications to the tendered company.

During the process of getting the name of the property owner changed, citizens can also pay the acquisition charges, current property tax and the pending dues. Following which, they will be provided with a provincial certificate and after the completion of process, a completion certificate will be given. Making the process online is a part of the tax reform agenda under the Center’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Kareer, in his proposal, also stated that allowing the process online will help bring in transparency.

He added that many people are not aware of the process and the documents required for the same.

City MP Suresh Kalmadi needs to be credited for this major policy decision as he has made his partymen to accept the recommendations of the Centre for Advance development Computing (C-DAC) and environmentalist. In a statement issued to press, Kalmadi has pointed out that he has honoured the sentiments of the citizens of Pune by submitting a green DP and now " It is the responsibility of the coporate sector to come forward and participate in safeguarding the development of these area,".

The committee submitted the final draft of the DP to Mayor Dipti Chaudhari on Thursday. And, the good news is

• 1600 hectors of land in the 23 fringe villages has been identified as hills and has been "reserved" for "bio-diversity parks".
• Similarly, 60 meters land along either side of the river banks-- defined as , either sides, --- from the "flood line", maximum limit of the river’s carriageway---has been identified as a "no development area".

(Click on "Full Story" for more.)

The 500 buses would be in addition to the 350, already on the way. "We will seek a loan of Rs 70 crore to purchase these buses," Mopalwar said. During the current year, the PMT had placed orders to buy 200 new buses and has entered into a contract with a private agency for hiring 150 new buses. All the 350 buses are expected to join the fleet by March 31, 2005. Of the 847 buses in the existing fleet, 144 buses are more than 15 years old and 275 are more than 10 years old.

The Rs 227.27-crore draft budget was submitted by Mopalwar to PMT committee chairman Chandrashekhar Kapote on Friday. The committee is expected to forward it to the civic standing committee by the first fortnight of January.

Such buildings, on plot area of more than 5,000 sq ft, can be up to 36 metres tall

Corporators moved some supplementary motions to check possible misuse of additional FSI, but the original proposal was sanctioned after consensus among all parties. The proposal is in accordance with the State government’s IT & ITES Policy.

• The PMC will now publish a notification under section 37 of the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning (MR &TP) Act to invite objections and suggestions from citizens. The DC rules will be amended after hearing the objections and suggestion and will be sent to the State government for final approval.

Union general secretary Mukta Manohar said that employees do not want only festivals to see zero garbage. She said employees, along with the officials, should chalk out a plan to achieve zero garbage throughout the year.

Commisioner Nitin Kareer, on his part, said that efforts taken by institutions other than the civic staff were always restricted. Kareer appealed to the staff to increase the quality of work.

Now, the PMC plans to lay a sewage pipeline from Shastri chowk on Nagar road to these areas. The line will be 400 mm in diameter and 450 m in length. The project, Devkar said, would prevent storm water-logging in these societies in the next monsoon.

The civic body would also collect information on properties rented out currently. Kareer gave this assurance when corporators complained that several PMC properties were lying idle because of its current policy.

Civic health chief Dr P S Dhaigude said the immunisation was done at 970 booths set up at 787 places in the city and at 183 places in the merged villages. Civic body sought help of 2,910 volunteers to organise the camps. A total of 3,433 centres were set up in Pune district for the immunisation drive. This included camps in various parts of Pune and in the 23 merged villages.

There are 68 cases of polio in India while there are 792 polio patients across 16 countries in the world. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of 47 patients while Maharashtra has two patients.