Aurangabad, Feb 25:
The people of Waluj Mahanagar have strongly opposed the inclusion in the municipal limits. Gram Panchayat, Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members fear that it will weaken their hold and citizens are worried about the increased taxes. An action committee will be formed to oppose the issue.
The decision to include Ranjangaon, Wadgaon-Bajajnagar, Pandharpur, Patoda, Teesgaon, Golwadi and Waluj in the industrial area is under consideration by the government. It is noteworthy that a proposal is being prepared to include this area in the municipal limits without taking the local public representatives and citizens into consideration. There is also a fear that the poor workers and the middle class in the area will have to bear the brunt of the increased taxes due to inclusion in the municipal corporation. People of the city are constantly struggling to get various basic amenities. It is also feared that citizens of Waluj will also have to struggle to get the basic facilities. The gram panchayats get funds from the government for various schemes. Due to the tax collected from the companies in the industrial area, quality facilities are provided to the citizens of the village. Cidco and MIDC administration provide basic facilities like roads, drainage, drinking water in the area. The existence of Gram Panchayat is going to end due to the corporation.
Will strongly oppose
Most of the poor and middle-class workers live in Wadgaon-Bajajnagar. Citizens will be inconvenienced as MIDC and Gram Panchayat will not be able to carry out development works. Citizens of this area will strongly oppose the inclusion in the municipal limits, said Sachin Garad, Sarpanch, Wadgaon-Bajajnagar
Oppose through the action committee
Due to the municipal corporation, the workers, traders and citizens of Waluj will have to bear the increased burden of various taxes. The decision is being taken without taking the consent of local public representatives and citizens. A committee will soon be set up to oppose the decision, said panchayat samiti member Deepak Bade.
Need an independent corporation
The population of Aurangabad city has increased tremendously and the municipal corporation has to work hard to provide facilities to the city dwellers. The burden of development works in villages will further increase the load. The government must set up an independent corporation on the lines of Pimpri-Chinchwad, said Usha Hiwale, ZP member, Ranjangaon.
Small businesses will be adversely affected
Due to the inclusion of Chikalthana industrial area in the municipal corporation, the entrepreneurs have to constantly struggle with the municipal corporation for facilities. Many industries in the Chikalthana area have been shut down due to the corporation's failure to provide basic facilities. The same situation can happen to small scale entrepreneurs in the Waluj industrial area, said Arjun Adamane, entrepreneur, Waluj.