Pune: The administrative efficiency of the Municipal Corporation, which had been disrupted, is set to improve. Four out of the five vacant deputy commissioner positions have been filled by government appointments.

Municipal Commissioner has reassigned responsibilities to the new deputies: Asha Raut (Zone 3 and Primary Education), Chetana Kerure (Zone 5), Prashant Thombre (Sky Sign and License Department), and Sunil Ballal (Cultural Department).

Madhav Jagtap, previously overseeing Encroachment Control for 14 years, will now focus exclusively on Tax Assessment and Collection.

The Pune Municipal Corporation has 18 deputy commissioner positions, nine filled internally and nine by state deputation. The vacancies had led to work delays, now expected to be resolved with these new appointments.

Sahakarnagar Citizens Forum Urges Monthly Meetings

The Sahakarnagar Citizens Forum has called for regular Mohalla Sabhas at Pune Municipal Corporation’s regional offices to address pending civic issues.

Due to local works and civic issues not being addressed at the regional office level, citizens have to turn to the municipal headquarters. Holding Mohalla Sabhas at each regional office is an effective solution to address these issues locally.

These meetings provide a platform for citizens to present their issues to regional officers and follow up on them. However, citizens have experienced that these meetings are often not held by the regional offices under various pretexts.

The forum argues that if these meetings are held regularly and effectively, citizens would not need to approach the municipal headquarters. The Sahakarnagar Citizens Forum has appealed for maximum citizen participation to make these meetings effective.