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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
All PHCs in Pune district to be smart PHCs
In an initiative to improve rural healthcare, the Pune district administration has decided to upgrade all 108 primary health centres (PHCs) into Smart PHCs. The project is the joint idea of Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi and Gajanan Patil, chief executive officer (CEO) of Zilla Parishad Pune. There are currently 108 PHCs in the Pune district. However, they differ greatly in size, design, and the facilities they offer. The goal is to bring uniformity and modern amenities to all centres, they said. According to officials, in the past several years, PHCs were constructed in the district as per the requirements. The initiative will be funded by the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC). According to the officials, a survey was conducted by the district administration to identify the gaps in the PHCs. During the survey, deficiencies in the infrastructure were identified that hampered healthcare services at the centres. Gajanan Patil, CEO, ZP Pune, said, 'The initiative will greatly improve healthcare delivery in rural and semi-urban parts of Pune district and ensure that patients have access to modern, clean, and efficient medical services close to home. Some of the internal changes are at par with the private healthcare facilities and will give a corporate hospital look to the PHCs,' he said. The need for changes in the infrastructure was identified to meet the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS). Additionally, changes required in the tiles, colours, curtains water taps, etc., were identified, said Dr Sachin Desai, Pune district health officer. Speaking to Hindustan Times, district collector, Jitendra Dudi, said, 'We aim to ensure that every citizen, regardless of where they live, has access to high-quality healthcare. Smart PHCs will bridge the urban-rural healthcare gap and improve patient outcomes. This initiative is not just about infrastructure. It's about creating a patient-friendly environment that uses technology, sustainability, and efficiency to serve the community better.'
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
In a first, 179 high-risk villages in Pune get disaster kits and direct training for volunteers to manage emergencies
1 2 Pune: The district administration has received double the usual annual allocation for disaster management and equipped 179 high-risk gram panchayats with rescue kits and training for monsoon emergencies. The Rs1 crore initiative indicates a major shift towards village-level disaster preparedness. The enhanced funding, originally sanctioned for mock drills after the Pahalgam attack, was repurposed following a May review meeting to strengthen on-ground disaster readiness. District collector Jitendra Dudi said the amount has been diverted for purchasing disaster management equipment and training, particularly for flood and landslide response. "We have identified safe areas for relocating villagers from landslide-prone zones during heavy rain," Dudi told TOI. He said training has already been imparted to villagers and kits procured for these villages. Targeted villages include 84 flood-prone hamlets, 72 landslide-prone ones, and 23 classified as critically high-risk locations. Each gram panchayat has selected and trained at least eight volunteers in first aid, flood rescue, emergency coordination, and equipment handling. For the first time, the disaster response kits — previously distributed only to taluka officials and fire brigade teams — are being handed directly to panchayats. Each comprehensive kit includes a first-aid box, life jackets, a 6ft foldable floating stretcher, helmet, gumboots, gloves, safety net, and 30m of rappelling rope. District disaster management official V Banavate said that the plan was discussed and executed early in May ahead of the monsoon. "This marks a fundamental shift in monsoon response strategy, with village bodies now playing an active role in early disaster intervention," said Banavate, adding, "Safe locations have been identified in each village, and leak-proof luggage along with floating stretcher kits have been distributed. " The move is a conscious effort towards decentralizing disaster response. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, the strategy ensures immediate life-saving interventions can begin at the village level, even before taluka or district teams arrive. Distribution is being coordinated through block development officers (BDOs), with a talathi gram sevak appointed to monitor operations in each area. Additionally, 500 disaster response teams have been trained across the district. To support field-level efforts, the district has operationalized a 24x7 disaster war room and helpline to coordinate alerts, evacuations, and rapid response. The control room will serve as the nerve centre throughout the monsoon season, connecting trained village teams with government support in real-time. Until now, village-level preparedness was largely limited to issuing advisories. "This is the first time villagers are not just waiting for help—they are trained and ready to respond," a senior disaster management official said. The district typically receives Rs50 lakh annually for monsoon preparedness. Pune was among six districts, including coastal areas, to receive the enhanced Rs1 crore allocation, while other districts received Rs50 lakh. The doubled funding enabled investment not only in equipment but in human resource development. In many high-risk villages, there's already growing confidence about the new preparedness level. A trained volunteer from Bhor said the pre-monsoon training has proved invaluable in building community readiness for the challenging season ahead. "We have received training but there is a need for the administration to shift out landslide prone villages," shared a volunteer.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Kondhwa reserved forest land transfer initiated following SC order
Acting on the Supreme Court's (SC's) directions, the Pune District Collectorate has initiated the process of transferring 29 acres and 15 gunthas of reserved forest land in Kondhwa Budruk to the forest department. The move follows an SC order dated May 15 which declared as void a 1998 allotment of this forest land to members of the Chavan family. The land was later sold to Richie Rich Cooperative Housing Society (RRCHS) for a multi-storey housing project. The SC also declared as void all subsequent transactions and developments on this land, citing a clear violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The transfer of this land to the forest department is intended to ensure compliance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and prevent further encroachment or unauthorised use. Following the May 15 SC order, the Pune district collector on May 17 instructed officials to inspect the site in question and initiate the process of transferring the reserved forest land to the forest department. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said that the land would be handed over to the forest department after demarcation. 'Necessary updates will be made to the 7/12 land records within the timeframe set by the SC,' he said. Meanwhile, the forest department is awaiting formal instructions from the Maharashtra government. Assistant conservator of forests Deepak Pawar said, 'The SC's directions will be communicated to us through the state government. We are currently awaiting those instructions.' Pawar further said that the forest department had submitted an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in March 2025, detailing the status of the reserved forest land under the revenue department's control. 'We are now verifying land records and will act once we receive further directions from the state government,' he said. The transfer is expected to bring the reserved forest land under the formal control of the forest department, enabling legal protection and stricter enforcement of conservation norms. The SC ruling dated May 15 came in response to a petition filed in 2007 by Nagrik Chetna Manch, a citizens' group, which challenged the 1998 diversion of the said forest land for private construction. The SC found that the land had been notified as reserved forest in 1879 and had remained so in official records. No valid de-reservation process had taken place after 1934. The apex court then held that the diversion of forest land for non-forest use was illegal, and stemmed from a nexus between politicians, bureaucrats, and builders under the pretext of rehabilitation. It ordered restoration of the said land. Calling the judgement 'significant', deputy conservator of forests Mahadev Mohite said that it could pave the way for similar actions across the country. 'In Maharashtra, nearly 1.5 lakh hectares of forest land remain with the revenue department. In Pune district, it is about 14,000 hectares,' he said.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Now Pune Zilla Parishad to construct permanent buildings for 410 Anganwadi centres in district
PUNE: To strengthen early childhood education infrastructure, the Pune Zilla Parishad has come up with a 'master plan' to construct permanent buildings for 410 Anganwadi centres in the district that currently operate from makeshift spaces like community temples, old halls and temporary shelters due to the absence of proper infrastructure. The Pune Zilla Parishad, under the guidance of district collector Jitendra Dudi and chief executive officer Gajanan Patil, has devised a solution in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) to integrate Anganwadi centres within the premises of existing primary schools. A detailed survey is currently being carried out to identify suitable spaces within school campuses where Anganwadis can be constructed. The integration aims to facilitate seamless transition from pre-primary to primary education for children. Patil said, 'Considering the lack of proper buildings for Anganwadis in many villages, the government will now extend support for construction. Once we ensure well-equipped buildings, it will directly contribute to improving the quality of education. The Zilla Parishad is actively taking steps in this direction.' Chandrakant Waghmare, additional CEO of the Pune Zilla Parishad, emphasised the benefits of constructing Anganwadi centres within school premises. 'Anganwadis are now being aligned with primary schools. This will ensure continuity in education from early childhood to formal schooling. We are committed to establishing high-quality Anganwadi centres under strong leadership and planning,' he said. As part of the plan, J B Girase, deputy CEO of the Pune Zilla Parishad, has directed block education officers and child development project officers to conduct joint visits to villages during which they have to identify available land within school premises and discuss the plan with village Sarpanchs, Gram Sevaks, and school principals. Officers must also submit a written report along with photographs of the locations by the end of May 2025. Inputs from School Management Committees must also be considered in the decision-making process. Anganwadis, considered the foundation of the educational system in rural India, cater to children aged three to five years, providing pre-primary education along with key services such as health, nutrition and maternal care. Despite the importance of these centres, many of them in Pune district have been functioning under severe infrastructural limitations. According to officials, while the government provides funds for constructing Anganwadi buildings, there is no provision to purchase land, creating hurdles in areas where space is not readily available. As a result, even approved Anganwadi centres have been unable to move into proper premises due to apathy or inaction by local Gram Panchayats that are expected to provide land through community participation. With the latest initiative, authorities hope to resolve long-standing infrastructural issues that have hindered proper functioning of Anganwadi centres to provide young children a safe, stable and conducive environment for learning and development.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
NDRF teams deployed as 14 villages in Baramati, Indapur inundated
Fourteen villages in Baramati and Indapur reported rain-related incidents and inundation after heavy rainfall on Sunday. Multiple people stranded across villages were rescued by the local authorities and two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams deployed. According to the Pune District Administration, Baramati taluka received 83.6 mm of rainfall while Indapur taluka received 35.7 mm. The NDRF deployed two teams to carry out flood rescue and relief operations in the affected areas in response to an urgent requisition received from the District Collector of Pune Jitendra Dudi. The deployment was necessitated due to a breach in water canals, which resulted in the severe inundation of multiple low-lying residential areas. Rising water levels in the Kara River (Baramati) and Neera River (Indapur) further exacerbated the risk, triggering urgent evacuation concerns. Initially, seven people were reported trapped in Baramati, and two in Indapur. All trapped individuals from both locations have since been successfully rescued by local agencies, the NDRF said. According to information provided by the district administration, in Shetphalgade village, water entered into 15 houses while in Nimbodi, the Nimbodi-Bhavaninagar bridge road was submerged. In Nirgude, the Khadakwasla Canal burst and water entered 40 houses. In Mahsobachiwadi, the main bridge road was submerged. In Ladki village water entered into two houses while in Chikhli village it entered into 14 houses. In Tavshi village water entered into one house. In Jamb, two workers working on a construction on a river were stranded and rescue operations were ongoing. A bridge was submerged in Thoratwadi as well. In Jalochi village in Baramati taluka, a 33-year old man was swept away by water along with his two-wheeler and rescued by the fire brigade. In Baramati Municipal Council limits, water entered 150 houses while 19 houses partially collapsed. In Mouje Kathewadi, water entered into seven houses. District collector Jitendra Dudi told The Indian Express that there was no loss to life but a cow had unfortunately died due to the heavy rain. 'A portion of Khadakwasla Left Canal has breached which has caused water to enter villages in Indapur and Baramati. We will be starting the Panchanama from Monday.' A district administration official said, 'For the last two days, there has been cloudburst-like rain in Daund, Indapur, and Baramati talukas. Khadakwasla and Neera Dawa canals have been closed. But in areas where canals are under construction, water from outside the canal has entered the canal, causing the water level in the canal to rise. The canals have burst at some places. The Khadakwasla canal has burst at Nirgude in Indapur and the Neera Dawa canal has burst at Limtek. Deputy engineer and junior engineer are present in the area.' NDRF said that two teams were mobilised from the unit headquarters in the evening hours, comprising trained personnel including divers, equipped with deep diving sets, flood water rescue (FWR) gear, and medical first response (MFR) equipment. The teams were dispatched to their respective locations — one to Baramati and the other to Indapur — for immediate response. The Indapur team had halted at the guest house in Bhigwan following the completion of initial response tasks according to the last update, while the Baramati team was en route to Markad Vasti, Ekshiv, approximately 28 km from Baramati, where six individuals were trapped in their homes due to the Neera river changed course.
