Populist Projects Vs Sustainability Planning in Cities
In February 2012, all the municipal corporations in Maharashtra underwent an overhaul in their respective local urban / municipal governments. The city level elections saw a flurry of projects in the city of Pune. Suddenly, the half done pending-for-long road projects saw completion. The project of constructing canal culverts that were pending since the past 1.5 years suddenly, as if with the wave of a magic wand, were completed in 1 month flat. Further, the incumbent nagarsevak , when he visited the housing societies, promised more gardens, better roads, good water supply and clean streets to the hassled citizens, who deal with these issues everyday 24x7. In localities where slums were dominant, the aspiring nagarsevaks , went so far as to promise free dwellings, 24x7 piped water to all slum dwellers. In areas, where the transport was inadequate, promises were to add bus routes. In areas were roads were congested, promises were to build wider and better roads, even flyovers. The on