Latest news with #PCMC
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
PCMC announces winners of Brand Design Competition for Hari Setu
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), in collaboration with the Association of Designers of India (ADI) Pune Chapter, on Tuesday announced the winners of the Brand Design Competition for its flagship urban greening initiative, Harit Setu. The contest aimed to crowdsource a compelling and scalable brand identity for the project, which envisions an interconnected network of green spaces across the city. After a rigorous evaluation by an eminent jury comprising senior ADI designers, PCMC officials, and stakeholders from the Harit Setu project, Prajwal Jaysing Dinde emerged as the winner. Rohit Rajendra Ghodke was declared the first runner-up, while the second runner-up position was jointly awarded to Amol Sonu Dardi and Shaurya Bharadwaj. The Jury's Choice award was conferred upon Nasir Mehboob Shaikh. The judging was conducted through a globally trusted, tech-enabled platform that ensured a transparent, anonymous, and bias-free process with role-based access, real-time tracking, and secure scoring mechanisms. The jury evaluated the entries based on four parameters: brief comprehension and alignment (20%), concept and originality (40%), aesthetic value, execution quality and presentation (20%), and extendability of the idea across various media (20%). PCMC will announce the final brand design at an official unveiling and award ceremony, and until then, all participants have been requested not to showcase their entries publicly, officials said. A few key recommendations from the Jury included that both the second runners-up receive the full prize money. It also suggested that the selected brand designs may undergo further refinement. The Jury also suggested that PCMC may collaborate with the winners, in order of their ranking, for final detailing and implementation and lastly, ADI Pune Chapter will extend mentorship support for refining the selected identity and creating usage guidelines.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
PCMC steps up action against illegal constructions; over 20 under-construction structures demolished in 10 days
Pune: PCMC has intensified crackdown on under-construction structures built without approval from the building permission department. In the past 10 days, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials demolished over 20 such under-construction structures spread across 20,000sqft across the city. This includes under-construction structures where additional floors were being constructed without valid approval from the civic body. PCMC municipal commissioner had earlier this month told anti-encroachment officials to target illegal constructions in their early stages to prevent the need for demolition after completion. The civic body had faced criticism for demolishing 36 unauthorised bungalows built within the blue flood line of Indrayani river in Chikhali in May this year. Residents said that the officials had turned a blind eye when the structures were being constructed and came to demolish them a few years after their construction. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune A senior PCMC official said that beat inspectors had been told to identify new structures in their areas and validate if they were being constructed with permission. "If we find any new construction that is being carried out sans permission, the owners will be issued notices immediately and the structures demolished within 24 hours," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo He said currently action was not being taking against completed structures where people had already moved in as per Bombay High Court guidelines which restrict such actions during monsoon. "However, owners of these completed but unauthorised structures were served notices and given 30 days to remove illegal constructions in accordance with the MRTP Act," he said, adding that the court's restriction applies only to occupied structures, and action against under-construction illegal establishments was being taken without delay. Earlier this month, the civic body set up a dedicated vigilance squad to monitor its staffers and curb negligence in reporting or acting against new illegal constructions. The municipal commissioner warned of strict disciplinary action, including suspension, against any beat inspector or officer found guilty of inaction or deliberate oversight in such cases. The anti-encroachment department also took action against illegal slab crossings constructed over natural streams in Bhosari MIDC blocking the stormwater flow. "These unauthorised slab structures, spread across a 500-metre stretch, were not only illegal but also hampered nullah cleaning operations, leading to flooding in the area last month," a civic official said.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
PCMC inspects over 5.4 lakh homes to tackle Dengue and Malaria spread
With the ongoing monsoon, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Monday said it intensified its efforts to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. In a large-scale campaign spanning across all eight zones, the civic body has inspected over 5.43 lakh homes and nearly 29 lakh water containers in search of mosquito breeding sites. The drive also covered more than 1,200 scrap yards and over 1,600 construction sites. So far, breeding-friendly conditions were found in the surroundings of 9,680 houses and in over 10,548 water containers. Notices have been issued at 3,431 locations, and penalties have been imposed on 624 households and commercial establishments resulting in the collection of Rs 22.24 lakh in fines, health officials said. Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar Khorate, and Deputy Commissioner Sachin Pawar, the PCMC health department has adopted a multipronged strategy. This includes not only identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds but also increasing public awareness and taking punitive action wherever necessary, the civic administration said. The campaign involves regular insecticide spraying, household visits by health workers, and the distribution of information pamphlets. In addition, the corporation is running awareness programs in schools and conducting cleanliness drives in public spaces and high-risk areas, officials said. The civic body has appealed to residents to actively support the campaign by keeping their surroundings clean, especially during the rainy season. Citizens are advised to clean water storage containers every week, keep them covered at all times, and observe one 'dry day' each week to prevent mosquito breeding. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said, 'PCMC is adopting a comprehensive approach to combat dengue and malaria—through larval source elimination, rigorous inspections, and strong awareness campaigns. We urge citizens to actively participate by keeping their surroundings clean and supporting this city-wide effort.' Deputy Commissioner Sachin Pawar added, 'We are reviewing the ward-wise implementation of all anti-mosquito measures. Public support is crucial—every household must observe one dry day each week to prevent mosquito breeding.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
PCMC's sterilisation drive slammed as over 8k dog bite incidents reported in three months
1 2 3 Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad has reported 8,335 dog bite cases from April till June 25, 2025, as per official data. Civic officials said there has been a rise in these incidents over recent years. According to data from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the twin cities recorded 28,099 dog bite cases in FY 2024-25, up from 13,892 cases in 2021-22. The issue has raised concerns about the ineffectiveness of the civic body's stray dog sterilisation efforts. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Residents said the issue has citywide effects. Bhosari resident Kunal Gaikwad told TOI, "PCMC has failed to control the dog population. Stray dogs tend to chase commuters in the nighttime." Rahul Verma, who stays in Wakad, said, "The number of stray dogs has gone up in our area. We see dog bites reported and fear for children to go to play outside." Animal welfare workers blamed PCMC for its poor spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination drives as well as lack of awareness campaigns, which they asserted is the legal solution. Gitanjali Desai of NGO Saahas for Animals told TOI the civic administration must also focus on public awareness to educate people on identifying rabies-infected animals, preventing unnecessary fear and attacks on all stray dogs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo "PCMC is not conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives effectively, and sterilisation efforts have been poor. For nearly a year, their animal OPD has been shut, and no surgeries have taken place," she pointed out. Desai further said that people who are less aware of animal rules call the veterinary department helpline number, which is not operational. "This delays treatment for animals and help for citizens if needed," she explained. PCMC officials refuted that the slowdown in sterilisation efforts is due to the expiry of the contract with a private agency in Dec last year. A senior official from the PCMC veterinary department admitted, "Although sterilisation continues at a limited pace through contractual veterinary doctors, progress is sluggish." Now, PCMC has hired 16 contractual staff members dedicated to sterilisation work. "They are scheduled to join duty from July 25, after which the sterilisation drive is expected to gain momentum," the official assured. Last week, minister Uday Samant had said state govt will launch an extensive sterilisation drive soon across municipalities. Recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) veterinary department head Sarika Funde had told TOI that dog bite numbers can often appear higher as even smaller scratches are reported under this category. Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad has reported 8,335 dog bite cases from April till June 25, 2025, as per official data. Civic officials said there has been a rise in these incidents over recent years. According to data from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the twin cities recorded 28,099 dog bite cases in FY 2024-25, up from 13,892 cases in 2021-22. The issue has raised concerns about the ineffectiveness of the civic body's stray dog sterilisation efforts. Residents said the issue has citywide effects. Bhosari resident Kunal Gaikwad told TOI, "PCMC has failed to control the dog population. Stray dogs tend to chase commuters in the nighttime." Rahul Verma, who stays in Wakad, said, "The number of stray dogs has gone up in our area. We see dog bites reported and fear for children to go to play outside." Animal welfare workers blamed PCMC for its poor spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination drives as well as lack of awareness campaigns, which they asserted is the legal solution. Gitanjali Desai of NGO Saahas for Animals told TOI the civic administration must also focus on public awareness to educate people on identifying rabies-infected animals, preventing unnecessary fear and attacks on all stray dogs. "PCMC is not conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives effectively, and sterilisation efforts have been poor. For nearly a year, their animal OPD has been shut, and no surgeries have taken place," she pointed out. Desai further said that people who are less aware of animal rules call the veterinary department helpline number, which is not operational. "This delays treatment for animals and help for citizens if needed," she explained. PCMC officials refuted that the slowdown in sterilisation efforts is due to the expiry of the contract with a private agency in Dec last year. A senior official from the PCMC veterinary department admitted, "Although sterilisation continues at a limited pace through contractual veterinary doctors, progress is sluggish." Now, PCMC has hired 16 contractual staff members dedicated to sterilisation work. "They are scheduled to join duty from July 25, after which the sterilisation drive is expected to gain momentum," the official assured. Last week, minister Uday Samant had said state govt will launch an extensive sterilisation drive soon across municipalities. Recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) veterinary department head Sarika Funde had told TOI that dog bite numbers can often appear higher as even smaller scratches are reported under this category.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
PCMC to launch disability survey to strengthen social welfare outreach
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has announced a comprehensive citywide survey, in collaboration with its Divyang Bhavan, to create an updated and accurate database of persons with disabilities (PwDs). The initiative aims to improve the targeting and delivery of welfare schemes and services, a senior PCMC official said. According to the official, such surveys are mandated every five years under govt regulations and serve multiple purposes. 'Beyond updating records, these surveys help track disability patterns within families for early detection and preventive measures. They also raise awareness about disability rights, strengthen local administrative systems, and provide crucial referral information for early intervention in newborns and infants,' he said. Officials from PCMC's Social Development Department noted that the survey will offer insights into the types of disabilities present in the city and evaluate which govt schemes and services beneficiaries currently access. With the state govt expanding the classification of disabilities from seven to 21 categories last year, the survey will also help update the list of eligible beneficiaries. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune 'The data will allow us to identify skill gaps among PwDs and design customised training programmes to boost employment opportunities and economic self-reliance,' the official said, adding that both central and state govts utilise such data to improve existing welfare schemes and introduce new policies when needed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The survey will be carried out through a combination of online and offline methods. Women's Self Help Groups (SHGs), ASHA workers, and representatives from the disability community will be involved in the process. A dedicated mobile application is also being developed for digital data collection. Last year, PCMC established Divyang Bhavan, Maharashtra's first dedicated facility for persons with disabilities, offering rehabilitation, therapy, assistive services, and skill development programmes. As Divyang Bhavan officials are involved in the process of the survey, the civic body aims to promote the crucial facility among PwDs to ensure they avail themselves of the various services provided for them. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said, 'Accurate data is the foundation of effective policymaking. This survey will enable us to provide more inclusive and impactful services to persons with disabilities across the city.'
