Pune: Fast forward to 2012

The new year that begins today could well become a turning point in the politics of the city with the elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) being scheduled in early 2012. The new

year that begins today could well become a turning point in the politics of the city with the elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) being scheduled in early 2012. Considering

the present political equations, there is uncertainty about outcome of the election. The Congress party is in trouble in Pune as its leader from many decades, MP Suresh Kalmadi, is in jail

for alleged corruption in the Commonwealth Games. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was in power for the last five years in PMC, either with support of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party

(BJP) alliance or the Congress party. However, the NCP does not have much to show or talk about its performance and it would find it difficult to win a majority of 152 seats of the PMC on

its own. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has been strengthened with the Republic Party of India (RPI-Athawale) joining the alliance. The BJP is facing a serious divide between factions loyal to

Gopinath Munde and the party’s national president Nitin Gadkari. If this alliance succeeds in the civic election as predicted by a agency, then it would be a turning point for the alliance.

Even as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is trying to expand its base with the help of the youth in the city, the recently launched Pune Nagarik Sanghatana (PNS), a grand alliance of

NGOs and civic activists, is also preparing to intervene in the political process by contesting elections. Thus, the fight in the PMC polls is a complex one and the outcome is uncertain. The

possibility of post election alliances of political parties which do not share the same views is also a distinct possibility. A decision by the court about MP Suresh Kalmadi, who is in

Tihar Jail after being arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April 2011 would be another landmark development of 2012. Inspite of his arrest, Kalmadi continues to have a very

strong following in the city Congress unit. Irrespective of whether the court decision goes in his favour or against him, it would have political ramifications in the city. Development Plan

for Pune A major issue that would dominate civic politics in 2012 is the Development Plan (DP) of the city. The plan has been drafted and presented to the city improvement committee (CIC) of

the PMC. After the PMC elections are over in February, the activities about the DP would gain momentum. There are many stages before finalisation of the DP by the PMC and sending it to the

state government for its final approval. Bio-Diversity Park for Pune In early 2012, expect a decision by the state government on the controversial proposal of the Bio-Diversity Park (BDP) in

the 23 merged villages. If the state government allows construction in the BDP, then there would be strong reaction from green activists. PMC’s zero mosquito project On the health front,

the most awaited project could well be the ambitious zero-mosquito project of the PMC in 2012. While the project did take off in 2011, full fledged implementation and results if any would be

evident only this year. Autonomous status for BJ Medical College? Giving an autonomous status for the BJ Medical College and developing it into a centre of excellence on the lines of the

All India Medical Sciences, Delhi is another project which could be on the anvil in 2012. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research has shown a favourable response to such a

proposal. New building at Sassoon Meanwhile, Rs45 crore sanctioned last year for the development of a 11-storeyed-building at the hospital including new departments of tuberculosis, skin,

orthopedics, ENT and other disciplines besides new equipment like CT scan machines which is expected to happen in 2012. Health advice call centre The country’s first health advice call

centre set up in Pune is expected to be fully operational by January 2012. The 24x7 health advice call centre — initiated by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) — will have a panel of

specialists who will provide medical advice to callers dialling the toll free 3 digit numbers. Syllabus and exam reforms The syllabus changes have been introduced by Maharashtra State Board

of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) aimed at improving the quality of syllabus making it competent with other boards. It would be interesting to see how it gets adapted, if

it helps students crack competitive exams on par with students from other boards and if teachers are well trained.  Reforms in school transport In January, it will be interesting to see if

transport owners who had taken objection to the revised rules on school bus transportation will stick to their stand and indeed strike work. The topic of school bus transport remained hotly

debated in 2011 especially due to numerous tragic incidents across the state involving school students. Monitoring school fees Schools will no longer be allowed to initiate arbitrary

increase in fees in view of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2011. As rules to the Act are yet to be notified, educationists hope 2012 will see

some action on that front. BRTS to run in PCMC? In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the civic body is confident of starting the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in 2012 to tackle the growing need of 18

lakh population of Pimpri-Chinchwad. _(With inputs from Dinesh Thite, Alifiya Khan and Archana Dahiwal) _