Pune Residents Demand Action with Civic Charter Ahead of Elections
With the Pune Municipal Corporation elections just two days away, residents of Wanowrie have taken a decisive step. The Wanowrie Residents Forum released a detailed charter of civic priorities for Ward 18. This move reflects growing frustration with current governance and a strong desire for accountable leadership.
Voice of the Community
The forum compiled this charter through extensive feedback from housing societies and neighborhood groups. Residents clearly want time-bound results from their elected representatives and civic officials. They are tired of empty promises and demand tangible improvements in their daily lives.
"Residents are not seeking extraordinary facilities," explained WRF representative Maithali Manakwad. "We want a reasonable standard of living and a satisfactory quality of life. This requires sustained civic action and complete transparency from our leaders."
Twelve Priority Areas for Improvement
The charter outlines twelve critical areas needing immediate attention. These range from basic sanitation and water supply to traffic management and policing. Protection of open spaces also features prominently in the residents' demands.
Cleanliness tops the list of concerns. The forum demands daily street sweeping with publicly announced schedules. They want strict garbage clearance, including twice-daily removal at chronic dumping hotspots. Other sanitation demands include universal door-to-door waste collection and functional ward-level treatment facilities.
The residents also call for more litter bins and adequate public toilets throughout the ward. They insist on strict enforcement of open-defecation-free norms. The forum proposes heavy penalties for littering and spitting. Their ultimate goal is certification as a "Swachh neighbourhood" under Union ministry guidelines.
Water Supply and Infrastructure Demands
Reliable water access forms another crucial part of the charter. Residents seek year-round access to potable water through an equitable, closed loop piped system. Ideally, this would provide a 24x7 water supply to all households.
The forum emphasizes zero tolerance for leakages and pilferage. They demand uniform water distribution across the ward. Publicly accessible water quality monitoring reports would ensure safety and transparency in this essential service.
Protecting Public Spaces and Improving Mobility
Residents take a firm stand on protecting public land. They call for minimal construction on open spaces like the central ground near Samvidhan Chowk. The SRPF land and adjoining forest patches should remain largely untouched according to the charter.
The forum strongly opposes using these areas for temporary commercial encroachments. Events like melas and exhibitions undermine long-term public access to these valuable community spaces.
Pedestrian infrastructure receives special attention as a major pain point. The charter demands safe, continuous, and encroachment-free pavements throughout the ward. Unauthorized banners and hoardings must be removed promptly. Ward officers should be held directly accountable for enforcing these norms.
Additional Infrastructure and Governance Requests
Other key infrastructure demands include completion of the disputed Azadnagar–Krishna Nagar road stretch near Ruby Hall Clinic. The forum wants comprehensive pothole repairs throughout Ward 18. They also seek upgradation and better maintenance of the Salunke Vihar crematorium.
Improved traffic management at congestion-prone junctions would ease daily commutes. Expanded green cover would enhance the ward's environmental quality and resident wellbeing.
Ensuring Accountability and Follow-Through
To ensure these demands receive proper attention, the forum calls for strengthened preventive policing. Regulation of noise levels during festivals would maintain neighborhood peace. The WRF stresses the need for ongoing dialogue between residents and officials.
They request periodic ward-level meetings with active citizen participation. Creation of a dedicated Wanowrie civic webpage would improve communication and transparency. This digital platform could track progress on the charter's implementation.
A Clear Message to Political Candidates
The forum plans to share this charter with all candidates contesting from Ward 18. This sends a clear message to political contenders. Residents will judge them based on commitment to measurable improvements rather than vague campaign promises.
As Pune prepares for municipal elections, Wanowrie residents have set a concrete agenda. Their comprehensive charter represents a community determined to hold leaders accountable. The coming days will reveal which candidates take these civic priorities seriously.
