Pune: The state urban development department (UDD) has questioned the alleged discrepancies in the reorganisation of ward offices and committees in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and directed the civic body to submit a report.The move follows deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar’s letter sent to CM Devendra Fadnavis on March 5. The UDD directives were sent last week and said the PMC’s recent restructuring of 15 ward offices contained several administrative and geographical inconsistencies which should be clarified.On Monday, senior official of PMC’s general administration department Vijay Thorat said, “We have received the letter. The reply with the clarification will be sent to the state soon. The logic and reasoning behind the ward restructuring will be explained.”The PMC divided the civic areas under 15 ward offices after the new elected body took over. The offices deal with hyperlocal civic issues and support decentralised local administration.The Vishrantwadi and Dhanori (wards 1 and 2) were assigned to the Nagar Road office, despite a proximity to the Yerawada office. Residents of Kharadi-Wagholi (ward 4) are required to travel 3km past the Nagar Road office to reach the Yerawada office. The deputy CM’s letter suggested wards 1, 2 and 6 be linked to the Yerawada office, while wards 3, 4 and 5 should be moved to the Nagar Road office.Sunetra noted in the letter: “The current arrangement lacks geographical continuity and fails to account for population distribution, resulting in unnecessary travel for senior citizens, women and people with disabilities”. Consequently, the CM’s office directed the UDD to review the matter.Restructuring of ward offices is important as local corporators form a committee under the office to decide on ward office-level funds and works. The BJP, which is the largest party in PMC, dominates the ward committee. The NCP, the second-largest party, hardly has representation leading to unrest among local party members.
