Pune: Phursungi Residents Rally Against PMC, Taxation Without Adequate Services Sparks Protest
Phursungi, 12th December 2023: Residents of Phursungi, along with members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Pune, staged a vehement protest on December 11th at Mantarwadi Chowk, Phursungi, addressing a multitude of issues. The grievances primarily revolved around the imposition of property tax without corresponding amenities such as roads, drainage, water supply, and more.
Ganesh Dhore, Ex Corporator & NCP Pune Politician, emphasized the disparity between the property tax imposed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the lack of essential facilities provided. Dhore highlighted that the PMC collects taxes, including water tax, health tax, and education tax, at rates 15% to 20% higher than those incurred by the gram panchayat. However, the residents receive no corresponding services or facilities, such as PMC-run schools or adequate healthcare.
“The protest focused on property tax, among other issues,” said Dhore, questioning the rationale behind levying taxes when fundamental amenities are lacking. He pointed out the insufficient number of waste-picking vehicles provided by the PMC, hindering daily garbage collection. Dhore stressed that if the PMC fails to deliver essential and basic services, residents question the necessity of paying taxes.
The protest, lasting approximately 1.5 hours on the morning of December 11th, drew the participation of around 200 to 250 individuals at Mantarwadi Chowk, Phursungi.
Key demands from the residents of Phursungi, Uruli Devachi, and nearby areas include:
– PMC to provide all necessary facilities before levying taxes on citizens.
– Immediate improvement and repair of basic facilities, including roads, pothole repairs, daily water supply, and drainage systems.
– Progress and action on the Development Plan (DP) for Phursungi, as the current status shows no advancement.
