Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil said on Tuesday that Pune needs two municipalities and “delay is not possible now”. Kothrud MLA Patil expressed a similar opinion in 2022.
“Considering the growing area under Pune, two municipalities are necessary for the city. Delay in creating two independent municipalities will not work. The decision to merge cantonment boards should also be taken in haste,” state higher and technical education minister Patil said at a function of the Pune Shramik Journalists Association on Tuesday.
“Political, social and geographical issues are intertwined in this matter and should be taken into account while dividing. Although the Pune Metropolitan Area Development Authority (PMRDA) is located in the city, it is not a municipal corporation. So now there can be no delay in creating two separate municipalities…the question of naming the two parts will be important. Pune is also a historical city,” the BJP leader added.
Patil said that the Mahayuti has got the majority in the state and now that the cabinet ministers have been decided, government work will start in January and this matter will be given priority. “It is possible that the municipal elections could be held in April-May so the issue cannot be delayed,” Patil said.
Various MLAs and Ministers of Pune were present in the program.
Hadapsar NCP MLA Chetan Tupe agrees with Patil’s views. “Due to villages and growing population, the PMC (Pune Municipality) is under stress. Two independent municipalities, East and West, should be created,” Tupe said.
In 2022, Patil expressed a similar view, “The geographical area under the PMC has increased after the merger of 23 new villages last year. It is one of the largest civic bodies, considering its geographical area… There is a need to bifurcate the PMC into two municipalities. …”.
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