Indian Express: Pune: Saturday, June 16, 2012.
An RTI query filed by The Indian Express has revealed that the civic administration took three years to construct the official residence of the city mayor in Shivajinagar at a cost of Rs 1.34 crore in approximately half-acre plot. The PMC spent Rs 25 lakh in 2003-04, Rs 45 lakh in 2004-05 and Rs Rs 64.86 lakh in 2005-06 on the bungalow that got ready in 2005. But in all these five years, no mayor except Dipti Chaudhary has stayed in the bungalow. Even Choudhary had occupied it for only three months January 2005-March, 2005.
The present value of the property is pegged at Rs 10 crore. At present, it is used occasionally by the mayor to hold some meetings.
Despite seeking details of occupancy in bungalow, the administration did not give us the details in response to the RTI application. It was learnt that the bungalow was inaugurated during Chaudhary's tenure. Thereafter, the city got four mayors Rajni Tribhuvan, Rajlaxmi Bhosale, Mohansingh Rajpal and the present Vaisahli Bankar, but all preferred to stay at their personal residence instead of the official one.
The administration also failed to provide information on the services and facilities provided at the bungalow. A visit to the bungalow though revealed that the PMC provides round-the-clock security at the bungalow along with ensuring its cleanliness. This apart from the gardening service in the premises. At least five personnel are permanently employed for the upkeep and security of the place.
On repair and maintenance of the bungalow, the civic administration admitted that a budgetary provision of Rs 22.95 lakh was made since 2009-10 to date, but no money was spent at the Ghole Road office for carrying out the repair work. This year a provision of Rs 5 lakh have been made for the purpose.
"It is a pride to become the city mayor and it is justified that there should be a bungalow for the mayor. It is up to the individual mayor to decide on whether to stay or not, but it should be used for holding official meetings or hosting a party for guests from other cities or countries," said Chaudhary.
The city mayor can hail from any financial and social background, she said, adding, "Those from poor family staying in small house find it improper to invite guests at their personal house. Thus, this bungalow gives them a place for hosting parties for guests," she added.
An NCP corporator said if a mayor uses the official bungalow, she/he will have to stay outside his electoral panel and would be unable to give time to voters. Reiterating this view, former mayor Rajani Tribhuvan said though she was appointed as the mayor, her priority was always to fulfill the needs of her voters. "If I had stayed in the bungalow, the voters would have had to travel a lot to meet me and then the gap between me and voters would have increased," she said, adding that she did invite official guests to the bungalow.
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