News

IndianExpress:  For the past one-and-a-half years, the students of Pune Municipal Corporation’s Sant Gadge Maharaj School, Kondhwa, are doing without a proper playground.

In fact, cars, autorickshaws and even pedestrians often use the playground. The reason: Alleged encroachment on the playground by Brahma builders to facilitate a shortcut for residents of Brahma Avenue.
 
While the civic administration has admitted to the encroachment, it has failed to take any steps to protect the playground and instead, officials at the PMC school board and the civic administration are busy passing the buck.
 

IndianExpress: The Promoters and Builders Association of Pune (PBAP) has proposed to join hands with the Pune Municipal Corporation in a unique public-private partnership. The proposal is that developmental TDRs (Transfer of Development Rights) be granted to the builders in lieu of infrastructure development work undertaken by them.

“The PMC will ready the draft proposal for Developmental TDR within a month, after which it will be put to the City Improvement Committee for its approval,” said Municipal Commissioner Nitin Kareer, adding that the PBAP concept was a positive one and would lead to rapid and quality infrastructure development work in the city.

IndianExpress: Blame game appears to be part of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) strategy to handle dengue cases. Recently, it accused KEM Hospital dengue project in-charge Dr Rajesh Gadia of providing misleading information on number of cases in the city.

Now, following the death of a youth due to dengue last week, it is passing the buck to the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB). The reason: The victim resided in an area falling under PCB jurisdiction

IndianExpress: There is no clear answers as yet on where Pune’s international airport is coming up but Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is keen that work on the site near Rajgurunagar starts by the end of next year.

MIDC CEO Rajiv Jalota told Newsline that a 1,000 hectare site has been identified six km north of the original site at Chakan and that they hope to get the requisite clearances from the Indian Air Force and Airports Authority of India (AAI) within the next two months.

IndianExpress: Students appearing for challenging competitive examinations like the public service examinations will now have an extra helping hand.

A motley group of government officials, academicians, agriculture experts and businessmen have come together to form the Jaykars’ Association of Competitors (JAC), a forum that will focus on supporting the meritorious and needy aspirants appearing for competitive examinations.