10.7.10

Pune's development plan within three months

The long-pending Development Plan (DP) for 23 merged villages in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits will get the state government’s approval within the next 2 to 3 months. The DP for the 23 villages and the controversial proposal for the bio-diversity park (BDP) came up for discussion in a meeting convened by chief minister Ashok Chavan on Friday. City MLAs, MPs, MLCs and civic officials were present for the meeting in Mumbai. “The meeting was called for a final discussion on the DP and after completion of technical matters, the state government will issue the notification within the next 2 to 3 months. It was decided in the meeting that no reservation earmarked in the DP will be vacated or changed. Even if the PMC’s demands to vacate the reservation or shift it, no changes will be made. Also all party MLAs and MLCs present during the meeting agreed that the waterscarcity zones earmarked in the DP should be cancelled,” said BJP MLA Girish Bapat. The DP had earmarked waterscarcity zones where limited construction was allowed considering lack of water. Now, with PMC providing water in these areas construction could be allowed as it is in other parts of the city. Elected representatives also agreed to cancel agro industry zone and IT zones earmarked in the city as there was no need for these zones. The representatives also agreed that no construction should be allowed in the green zone along the riverside. The 23 fringe villages have been merged with the PMC in 1997. The civic body then set up a planning committee to draft a DP for these villages. The committee had submitted the final draft in December 2004. This included a proposal that banned construction on hills and river banks. Besides, it was recommended that 1,600 hectare land should be earmarked for a BDP. The DP was approved by the PMC general body in 2005 and since then it is pending with the state government for approval.

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