PUNE: Residents and real estate developers in the merged areas want the “much-delayed development plan of these areas to be approved at the earliest.”
The planned development in the 11 villages merged with PMC seven years ago is on a slow track. On the other hand, unauthorised constructions and encroachments are rampant. Urban planners observed that the absence of a DP creates hurdles in developing amenity spaces. These villages were merged with the PMC some seven years ago.
Shrirang Chavan, a petitioner in the high court for the merger of 34 villages, said that the civic administration should follow its duty and complete the DP. “The improvement of facilities like roads is not possible unless the DP is ready. Big projects, which will augment water supply systems, cannot be set up without the plan,” he added.
Chavan, who represents Haveli Taluka Nagari Kriti Samiti, a citizens’ forum, said the areas on the fringes are struggling without infrastructure. They neither have enough facilities, nor do they get any respite from paying heavy taxes.
Senior urban planner Ramchandra Gohad said that the DP is one of the most important documents for the development of the areas and its absence can delay overall growth. “Town planners can design and develop the areas in accordance with the plan. Public facilities and healthcare systems for the deprived classes can be planned considering future needs. Citizens’ engagement during the process of the development plan helps in better micro-planning,” he added.
Civic officials said, PMC aims to build STPs with a capacity of 105.5 million litres per day capacity for the 11 villages. They include a 93.5 MLD plant at Manjari and a 12 MLD plant at Mundhwa-Keshavnagar. The project cost is around Rs 178 crore, and the expansion of the 24X7 water supply scheme is being explored.
“The civic administration has given its documents and reports to the state which has to complete the remaining process. We are following up with the govt,” a senior PMC official said.
According to PMC officials, the proposal to merge 34 villages was approved by the PMC in 2013-14. After the court’s directives, 11 villages were merged into its jurisdiction in 2017. Nine were merged partly, while the two villages of Uruli Devachi and Phursungi, were completely added but were demerged in September 2024.
The PMC became the biggest municipal corporation in Maharashtra after the inclusion of 23 villages in July 2021 and its limits increased to 518.77 sqkm. The number of properties in PMC areas went up by four lakh after this merger.
