Pune Mar 22 PTI Punes iconic Aga Khan Palace where Mahatma Gandhi was kept as a prisoner during the countrys freedom struggle is facing acute water scarcity since last month as the city civic body has disconnected its supply due to non-payment of dues worth over Rs 170 crore An official of the Archaeological Survey of India which manages the monument here in Maharashtra on Tuesday said they have requested the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC to provide a new water connection in the ASIs name so that visitors are not inconvenienced On weekdays the monument attracts 700 to 800 visitors and on weekends the number goes up to 1200 Gajanan Mandaware the ASIs conservation assistant at the palace told PTI After the launch of the Quit India movement Mahatma Gandhi his wife Kasturba Gandhi and his secretary Mahadev Desai were kept in detention at the Aga Khan Palace which was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892 Desai and Kasturba Gandhi died in detention and their samadhis are located in the premises The palace is one of the 17 heritage sites picked up for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav an initiative of the Centre to commemorate 75 years of Indias independence According to PMC water supply departments chief engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar a three-inch water pipe connection for the palace garden was disconnected on February 5 due to an unpaid water bill amounting to Rs 172 crore Mandaware said the garden spread across six acres is largely affected due to the water scarcity and visitors are also facing hardship The water connection which was disconnected was in the name of superintendent parks and garden Mahatma Gandhi Memorial According to the PMC there is an water bill unpaid for the last 30 years The bill suddenly popped up this year and the connection was disconnected he said Mandaware said they have written a letter to the PMC to provide them a new water connection in the ASIs name so that visitors do not face any inconvenience The issue pertaining to the present unpaid bill will also be handled at a higher level he said The ASI official said they are also looking into making the old borewells functional to water the garden and trees in the premises PTI SPK GK GK

Pune Oct 24 PTI In a bid to spread awareness about cleanliness among citizens the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC on Sunday organised a special plogathon drive which involved collecting trash during jogging in morning hours Citizens and representatives of various organisations participated in the drive which was flagged off by Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol from the PMC headquarters He took part in a cycle rally on the occasion Cleanliness is a virtue and it should be imbibed by every citizen he said adding that plogathon was organised at 500 places Deepa Cheema one of the members of a residents forum in Mohammadwadi suburb said they had tied up with PMCs solid waste management department and at least 30 to 35 residents from the forum took part in the drive and cleaned almost one km stretch Sunil Koloti another resident in the area said shop owners vegetable vendors and eateries were requested not to dump garbage in the open Vasant Sasane a sanitary inspector from Hadapsar ward said citizens participated in the drive despite Sunday being a holiday and cleaned their surroundings He added waste collectors from SWaCH a cooperative which works with the PMC and is in charge of door-to-door waste collection also joined the drive According to PMCs Solid Waste Management department over 57000 kg of dry and plastic trash was collected by over 55000 citizens at 521 places PTI SPK NSK NSK