Funds diverted from NCP corporator Suhas Tingre’s ward

Pune: NCP corporator from Lohegaon Suhas Tingre on Thursday said funds around Rs12 crore meant for civic works in his ward had been diverted to a neighbouring one through a proposal cleared in the BJP-dominated standing committee meeting on Thursday.The corporator said he would raise the issue with party chief Suntera Pawar and other top functionaries.Tingre is the second NCP corporator to face diversion of funds meant for local area development. Recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s general body passed a proposal to not allocate funds to a ward represented by NCP’s Amol Balwadkar. BJP and NCP leaders were involved in a heated exchange of words during the meeting over the proposal.NCP sources said BJP’s move to divert funds of their corporators was politically motivated and showed the dominant party’s arrogance, despite both working together in the state cabinet.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tingre said, “The funds were to be utilised for citizen-centric works. Such a diversion was unexpected. I will raise the issue with Sunetra Pawar.”Suhas is NCP city unit chief and former Wadgaonsheri MLA Sunil Tingre’s brother.Sources said Balwdkar had tabled a proposal for scrutiny of funds spent in Kothrud assembly constituency which is represented by BJP’s senior leader and state cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil. Tingre had also approved Balwadkar’s proposal.Bidkar writes to Sunetra over Balwadkar’s behaviourBJP’s leader of house in PMC Ganesh Bidkar on Thursday wrote a letter to NCP chief Sunetra Pawar over NCP corporator Amol Balwadkar’s behaviour.He said Balwadkar was publicly criticising BJP leaders, this despite BJP and NCP being together in the state govt. There was a mutual understanding while functioning in PMC and executing developmental works for the city.Bidkar said that Balwadkar had been taking a stand against BJP’ programmes and criticising mayor Manjusha Nagpure and other party members. He said the NCP politician was especially against BJP state functionary and Kothrud MLA Chandrakant Patil. He said that though the funds from wards of Balwadkar and Tingre had been diverted, the BJP was committed to execute developmental and citizen-centric works in both wards.