Pune civic chief bars central departments from passing funds to ward offices

Pune, November 14, 2026: Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has issued an order barring the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) central departments from transferring funds given to them for works of the ward offices. The order comes amid a row over money earmarked in the PMC budget for development works being sent to other electoral wards.

In his circular, the commissioner said such transfers are not advisable from the point of view of financial planning. He has directed all central departments not to make their budgetary allocations available for ward office works without following the prescribed financial provisions.

The order comes amid a controversy over a Standing Committee proposal. The proposal seeks to move about Rs 5.5 crore, set aside in the budget for development works in the Kasewadi-Dias Plot area of Ward 22, to Ward 23-D. BJP corporators are opposing the move. Congress corporator Rafique Sheikh has also demanded that the proposal be scrapped. He alleges that the money was diverted without taking the concerned elected representatives into confidence.

Another similar dispute concerns about Rs 5.5 crore set aside for two development works in the Bund Garden area. The amount is being spent on road works in the Taljai area.

However, the commissioner's circular does not make clear what will happen to fund transfers the Standing Committee has already approved. The circular says only that central departments cannot make their budgetary allocations directly available for ward office works.