representative image Pune: a group of citizens and members Pimpri Chinchwad Co-operative Housing Societies Federation (PCCHSF) has opposed the Municipal Corporation’s proposal to convert 1.55 hectares of land in Tathawade area from public semi-public area to residential.
Federation members claimed that the decision would set a trend for similar conversions and that space would be lost for residents. public facilities,
On September 23, Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh approved the proposal to convert the said amenity land into residential during a general meeting of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.PCMC,
A senior PCMC official said the reserved land has a private school associated with a well-known politician of the state and about 40% is an open playground.
“We may have approved the amendment process, but citizens have time till October 23 to raise objections, which are already being filed. As per the procedure, before sending the proposal to the state government for a final decision Objections will be heard.” The PCMC official said a condition has been imposed that no residential development will be allowed without reserving 40% of the area for a playground.
PCCHSF Secretary Sudhir Deshmukh has written a letter on behalf of the federation to the PCMC Commissioner and the Urban Development Department of Maharashtra and has raised objection on this matter.
Deshmukh said, “The population of Pimpri Chinchwad is increasing rapidly. Many new residential projects are coming up in Tathawade. If the amendment happens, it will set a trend. PCMC will convert land use everywhere and citizens will get public facilities. Can forget about.”
He further said that the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority is taking similar decisions and has either denotified many land parcels reserved for public facilities or given them to private players. He said, “The development plan was made six years ago and the authorities must have considered it. However, since there are no elected representatives in the civic body to raise the concerns of citizens, the administration is taking decisions on its own. “
Manoj Choudhary, a resident of Tathawade, said, “A private education institute is already running on this plot. We hope that a similar facility will continue so that residents can admit their children there and they do not need to go far for education.” A large number of constructions have been allowed without permission.” “Public facilities are a bad civic move.”
