The garden, which was to be inaugurated by Shinde during his visit here, has been developed by former Shiv Sena councilor Pramod Bhangire at a facility in Hadapsar’s Mohammadwadi area. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Bhangire, a three-time corporator of the area, claimed that he developed the garden with his own funds and named it after Shinde. The former corporator recently transferred his allegiance to the insurgent Shiv Sena group led by Shinde and was appointed the party’s Pune city president.
The move to name the park after Shinde faced criticism from activists, with Bhangire saying its inauguration has been cancelled.
“It has been decided to name the park after Anand Dighe. A proposal to this effect will be sent to the naming committee of the PMC,” Bhangire said.
Shinde, who is on a visit to Pune, tried to play down the whole affair and said that Bhangre might have named the garden after him out of affection.
Addressing a press conference, the CM said that he had already told Bhangire that he does not attend such events. Shinde said, “Maybe he did it (christening) out of love, but now I think Dharamveer Anand Dighe’s name has been decided for the garden.”
Citizen activist Vineeta Deshmukh said in a video statement, “At a time when the city is facing several issues related to water supply and potholes, Shinde has different priorities and wants to inaugurate a garden named after him.
Deshmukh said the chief minister was oblivious to the ongoing agitation to rename a garden in the city’s Salisbury Park area after the father of a former councillor. He condemned the growing trend of corporators to name gardens, streets and schools after their family members.
“As per a general body resolution (PMC), a public park can be named only after a national leader or a renowned environmentalist. But it seems Shinde is looking for praise,” the activist said. Deshmukh said he had spoken to former corporator Bhangire, who told him that he had developed the garden using his money.
“But the fact remains that the land under consideration belongs to the PMC. It seems that the councilors have come up with a new ploy to spend a few lakh rupees on the construction of facilities on the PMC’s lands in view of the votes,” he said.
The PMC elections are to be held later this year.
Deshmukh said that information obtained through RTI (right to information) revealed that since 2000, 82 public parks in Pune city have been named after family members of corporators and civic activists are seeking to approach the court on the issue. making plans.