Property tax waiver for small homes, regular water supply among key promises in two NCPs’ manifesto for PCMC

Pune: Regular water supply, measures to make Pimpri Chinchwad a tanker-free city, and a property tax waiver for houses up to 500sqft were among key promises made by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday, as the two NCP factions released their manifesto for the upcoming PCMC polls. The twin cities currently receive water on alternate days, forcing several housing societies to depend on costly water tankers.
Pawar also announced that the proposed Development Plan (DP) for the city would be scrapped, claiming that despite more than 50,000 objections raised by citizens over various reservations, the plan was approved by the civic administration and forwarded to the state govt for final clearance. He also assured free Metro and PMPML services for all citizens, on the lines of the party's promise made for the PMC polls a day earlier. Pawar said the initiative was not merely an election promise. "This is a project we will implement, just as we implemented the Laadki Bahin scheme in the state. It can be approved by the elected municipal body after the polls and will not require state cabinet approval," he said. He was accompanied by his nephew and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, MP Amol Kolhe, and state legislative council deputy speaker Anna Bansode. The deputy CM accused the BJP of failing to deliver on its 2017 manifesto. "There were 27 assurances made during the 2017 PCMC elections, and not a single one was fulfilled," he alleged. Continuing his attack on local BJP leaders, Pawar alleged corruption in civic projects implemented over the past nine years and said it was up to voters to decide "whether they want to vote for leaders of dealers." He earlier accused two local BJP MLAs of corruption in multiple PCMC projects. PCMC was long considered an NCP stronghold, particularly under Ajit Pawar, who held sway over the civic body for nearly three decades before the BJP took control in 2017. Responding to questions about criticising the BJP despite being part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance at the state level, Pawar said, "I am fighting an election and merely highlighting the mistakes made over the past nine years. I do not think this can be seen as a violation of alliance dharma." The two NCP factions are contesting the PCMC polls in alliance, while the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Congress are contesting independently. Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS tied up for the elections, which will see 128 corporators elected from 32 wards.