Pune: Citizens’ Manifesto Highlights Key Demands For Wadgaonsheri Assembly Candidates 

With the upcoming Wadgaonsheri constituency assembly elections in November 2024, residents have outlined a **Citizens’ Manifesto**, demanding written assurances from candidates on critical civic issues. The manifesto, spearheaded by Qaneez Sukhrani, Convenor of the Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum, seeks robust commitments for addressing water distribution, waste management, traffic, and urban planning challenges.  

Key Demands in the Citizens’ Manifesto  

1. Equitable Water Supply:
   Candidates must push the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to ensure equitable water supply across all city areas. This includes advocating for an increased water quota from the state government proportional to population growth. A comprehensive water policy with a focus on equitable distribution is a must, alongside banning water tankers in areas with adequate rainfall.  

2. Rainwater Harvesting:  
   Housing societies, commercial establishments, and industries must implement rainwater harvesting compulsorily. Heavy penalties should be imposed on violations such as installing booster pumps or illegal water connections.  

3. Solid Waste Management:
   Immediate implementation of a solid waste management plan with strict segregation of dry and wet garbage at the source is essential. PMC must establish processing plants in each area and avoid approving facilities that accept mixed garbage.  

4. Street Vendor Regulation:  
   Strict implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and related rules to create designated vendor zones is essential. This will prevent encroachments on pavements and ensure pedestrian safety.  

5. Road Repairs and Maintenance:  
   Candidates must press the state government to ensure PMC adopts scientific methods for road construction and repairs. Quick fixes must end, and responsibility for poor road conditions should be fixed on engineers.  

6. Ring Road Completion:  
   Fast-tracking the 126 km ring road project is crucial to divert inter-city traffic and reduce congestion within Pune by up to 40%.  

7. Decongesting Streets and Footpaths:  
   Immediate removal of parked and halted heavy vehicles, tempos, buses, and other vehicles from footpaths and side margins is needed to address traffic woes.  

8. Multi-Modal Transport Hubs:  
   Constructing multi-modal transport hubs and parking lots on government land along arterial roads is necessary to integrate public and private transport seamlessly.  

9. Sustainable Urban Development:  
   Building flyovers and underpasses should be a last resort. Instead, simple solutions like no-parking zones, proper traffic signals, and multi-modal parking facilities should be prioritized.  

10. Population Management:  
    Unchecked urban sprawl must be curtailed. Candidates must advocate for policies to control Pune’s growing population and expansion fueled by unregulated construction.  

11. New Municipal Corporations:  
    Residents demand the creation of at least three new municipal corporations to manage the city’s rapid expansion, particularly after merging 34 villages and excluding cantonment areas.  

12. Street Parking and Urban Design: 
    Implementation of the 2016 Street Parking Policy and adoption of the Unified Streetscape Guidelines Design (USGD) 2016 for pedestrian-friendly junctions and pathways are critical for orderly urban design.  

The Call for Accountability  
Signed by Qaneez Sukhrani, the manifesto highlights residents’ frustration with the lack of planning and foresight in Pune’s governance. Candidates are urged to collaborate with citizen experts and prioritize these demands to ensure sustainable development and improve the quality of life for Wadgaonsheri residents.  

The manifesto seeks to hold candidates accountable for their promises, ensuring they actively address the pressing needs of Pune’s citizens.