Rs 1 crore already spent on cultural events in 5 months, activists and politicians angry at fresh Rs 23.5 lakh allocation for similar activities

Spendthrift Civic body delivers another culture shock

Rs 1 crore already spent on cultural events in 5 months, activists and politicians angry at fresh Rs 23.5 lakh allocation for similar activities

THE Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) spent Rs 1 crore on cultural events over the past five months, and it is being said all this has been done at the cost of important civic works.

Citizen activists and the opposition in the civic house have been crying hoarse against the use of taxpayers' money for cultural events.

"The PMC should use taxpayers' money judiciously and give priority to important civic issues," said M S Dixit, a senior citizen from Sadashiv Peth.

Spending spree
The PMC donated Rs 51 lakh for the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in March, Rs 20 lakh for the Pune Festival in February and Rs 15 lakh for the Baisakhi Festival in April.

Now, the Standing Committee has approved an expenditure of Rs 20 lakh for the Pune Festival in Srinagar as part of the Kashmir Mahotsav on July 11.

The PMC has also allocated Rs 3.5 lakh to promote Marathi artistes who will be performing in Switzerland this month for a Marathi Sammelan.

"Shouldn't the PMC have a stipulated budget for cultural programmes? And shouldn't the thrust be on civic issues?" said Vikas Mathkari, former leader of the opposition. "The PMC could have purchased three PMPML buses with the money spent on cultural festivities. The common people need buses; at least 2,800 buses should be on the roads instead of the present number of 1,400."

Vivek Velankar, president of Sajag Nagrik Manch, said, "This kind of expenditure on the part of the PMC is hampering several development works in the city that should be given top priority. Proper roads and sanitation are the basic issues that need to be addressed, as they have still not been resolved by PMC. The monsoon is here and water-logging issues have still not been sorted out."

Letter to CM
Members of the NGO Creative Foundation have sent a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan highlighting these issues.

"The PMC needs to have a control on such expenses. It has violated Section 84 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act," said Sandeep Khardekar, president of Creative Foundation. "We have pointed out the Rs 1 crore expense on cultural events in the past five months in the letter."