Pune, 17 July 2025: In response to growing civic issues in the 32 villages recently merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram announced that the civic body will prepare independent development plans for each village. Speaking to the media after meeting village representatives on July 15, he stated that development works will proceed without waiting for funds from the state government, and PMC’s own resources will be used wherever necessary.
During the meeting, the representatives highlighted critical problems faced by residents, including poor roads, inadequate sewage and drainage systems, and a severe lack of access to clean drinking water. Commissioner Ram acknowledged these issues and said that clear, village-specific plans would be drawn up to ensure structured and targeted development.
He admitted that there has been confusion within the administration regarding planning for these newly added areas. To address this, officials have been instructed to assess what development has occurred so far, what funds have been spent, and what residents actually need. He emphasized that citizen demands will be incorporated into the upcoming development plans to bring clarity and direction to the process.
The commissioner revealed that development plans for 11 villages have already been completed, while the remaining 23 are still pending. For these, new plans will be created and implemented accordingly. A separate proposal of ₹2,000 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme has been submitted to the state for sewage management in the merged villages. The PMC aims to secure approvals for these works before the upcoming elections.
One of the most pressing concerns remains the lack of safe drinking water. To address this, the PMC intends to set up water purification plants and will follow up with the state government for necessary financial support. However, the Commissioner clarified that even without immediate state funding, essential works would be taken up using PMC’s budget.
He also mentioned that although no taxes are currently collected from these newly included areas, the PMC has written to the state government seeking permission to start property tax collection to help fund the development efforts.