Lack of manpower hurts Fursungi and Uruli Devachi Municipal Councils
Lack of manpower hurts Fursungi and Uruli Devachi Municipal Councils
Ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, the Maharashtra state government has excluded Fursungi and Uruli Devachi from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and formed a Municipal Council for the areas. However, the new council is currently facing a manpower shortage, as no employees have been appointed yet. Filling these positions is expected to take significant time. In the meantime, the PMC has been instructed to continue providing basic amenities to both villages.
In 2017, the state government included 11 villages, including Fursungi and Uruli Devachi, within the PMC’s jurisdiction. Following this inclusion, unauthorized warehouses and sheds in these areas were subjected to property taxes and fines, sometimes amounting to lakhs of rupees. This led to rising frustration among citizens due to the slow provision of facilities and the start of tax collections.
Former State Minister Vijay Shivtare held discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, pushing for the exclusion of these villages from the PMC. While the decision was made during their initial meeting, the official announcement was delayed. On September 11, just ahead of the election code of conduct, an order was finally issued to remove Fursungi and Uruli Devachi from the PMC and establish their own Municipal Council.
As the new council works to address the challenges it faces, residents hope for improved services and quicker implementation of local governance.
