Pune: The issues raised by two residents' groups in South Pune are the same — lack of water availability , poor roads and chaotic traffic. But while Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF) has given a call for "no water, no vote" and "no infrastructure, no tax", NIBM Annexe Residents Forum has encouraged members to choose the right candidate by exercising their franchise. Sunil Koloti, one of the directors of MURWDF, told TOI that despite being a part of the PMC, they are deprived of all basic amenities, especially water, for years now.
"Why should we vote? There are many housing societies which spend more than Rs 2 lakh every month just on tanker water. Why has water not reached our homes for so many years now? We won't vote for anyone as no one has helped us until now," he said. Not too far away from Undri lies NIBM Annexe.
Here, too, the residents have been struggling for water for years now. While many housing societies are dependent on tankers, lack of proper roads is still a major issue here. However, Jaymala Dhankikar, the forum director, said not exercising the right to vote will not solve any problem.
"It is our right to vote. And we should all vote for a candidate who can turn things around for us. We shouldn't waste our votes but choose a proper person after a lot of research," he said.
Atik Pathan, who lives in Gemini Park Avenue housing society on NIBM Annexe Road, agreed. "We supposedly live in an upmarket area with all fancy estab.