PUNE / PIMPRI: Since Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has been made the guardian minister of Pune district, his word will be considered final in the affairs of PCMC. This is expected to create problems for Shiv Sena MP from Maval Shrirang Barne and BJP MLA from Bhosari Mahesh Landge.
After the Shinde government was sworn in, Barne and Landge had become powerful and the civic administration was working as per their orders. After Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government, Barne and Landge were worried. After becoming Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar had held a three hour meeting and taken civic officials to task. Shiv Sena’s MP and BJP MLA were not invited for the meeting. Pawar had declared that some works, where alleged irregularities had taken place, would be reviewed. This was considered as detrimental to Mahesh Landge’s interests.
Ajit Pawar had sought answers to some questions but he did not get a reply. Pawar was facing problems as he was not holding the post of guardian minister. Now, the administrator of PCMC will have to work as per his orders. Since Pawar’s orders will prevail, this will put Barne and Landge in a catch 22 situation. During the reign of MVA government, the civic chief was working as per Pawar’s orders and Barne has experienced this. MLA Landge, who is upset because of the decision to review some projects, is bound to get more restless. It is being said that Pawar is not happy with the working style of Civic Chief Shekhar Singh. There are discussions that a new civic chief will be appointed soon.
Since Pawar has been made the guardian minister, pending works like the closed pipeline project, irregular water supply, garbage depot at Punawale etc will be speeded up.
