In a significant last-minute move, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar cleared a series of proposals worth over Rs 250 crore during a standing committee meeting on Monday. This crucial meeting was held mere hours before the State Election Commissioner announced the dates for the municipal corporation elections, thereby bringing the model code of conduct into immediate effect.
A Final Administrative Push
The virtual meeting marked the final administrative exercise for the municipal commissioner, as future meetings will be conducted by the newly elected body of corporators. With PCMC having been under administrative rule for nearly four years since the previous elected body's tenure ended in March 2022, this was a pivotal session. Hardikar, who also holds the additional charge as managing director of Maha Metro, oversaw the approval of multiple contracts and initiatives.
The approved proposals encompassed a wide range of civic works. Key among them were the extension of contracts for security guards deployed across various PCMC properties. Furthermore, the committee greenlit several infrastructure-related projects, including road development and the augmentation of the water supply network. A senior PCMC official stated that most proposals were tied to essential infrastructure works like road repairs and the maintenance of municipal structures, including schools and hospitals.
Housing Allotment to Avoid Delay
In a parallel development aimed at preventing procedural delays, the civic body conducted draws for the allotment of housing units. A draw was held for 1,190 flats constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana. Additionally, another draw was conducted for 755 flats built for people from the economically weaker sections. Officials clarified that this step was taken specifically to ensure that the allotment process would not be stalled due to the impending model code of conduct, allowing beneficiaries to receive their homes without further wait.
Activists Raise Questions Over Timing
However, the timing of these approvals has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from local activists. Activist Maruti Bhapkar has written to the municipal commissioner, alleging that the proposals may have been "hurriedly cleared to benefit contractors." He bolstered his claim by reporting that several contractors were seen queuing outside the offices of senior PCMC officials on the same day as the meeting.
This flurry of administrative activity underscores the transition phase for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation as it prepares to return to a democratically elected governance model after a prolonged period of administrative rule. The actions taken in this final meeting will likely set the agenda for the incoming elected body and have sparked a debate on procedural propriety on the eve of elections.
