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Green Development Proposed In The Development Plan For The 23 Fringe Villages In Pune

Section Pune Municipal Corporation
Posted on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 06:50:48 PM EST
PUNE: Punekars have received the best new year gift - A "green" development plan for the 23 villages which were merged in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in 1987! Upholding the demand by the citizens and the media, the Planning Committee, set up for finalisation of the draft Development Plan (DP) for the 23 villages, has banned constructions on the hills and along the banks of the rivers.

City MP Suresh Kalmadi needs to be credited for this major policy decision as he has made his partymen to accept the recommendations of the Centre for Advance development Computing (C-DAC) and environmentalist. In a statement issued to press, Kalmadi has pointed out that he has honoured the sentiments of the citizens of Pune by submitting a green DP and now " It is the responsibility of the coporate sector to come forward and participate in safeguarding the development of these area,".

The committee submitted the final draft of the DP to Mayor Dipti Chaudhari on Thursday. And, the good news is

  • 1600 hectors of land in the 23 fringe villages has been identified as hills and has been "reserved" for "bio-diversity parks".
  • Similarly, 60 meters land along either side of the river banks-- defined as , either sides, --- from the "flood line", maximum limit of the river’s carriageway---has been identified as a "no development area".
"This is a major policy change. No other Corporation has reserved hills," former Mayor Vandana Chavan who was present for the press conference said.

(Click on "Full Story" for more.)

"The decision achieves significance considering that it will put an end to any type of constructions on the hills-- not even a farm house," Anita Gokhale, member of the planning committee told reporters while addressing a press conference along with Mayor Chaudhari. Elaborating, she said that according to the existing norms hills fall under a "zone" - a hill top hill slope zone. The PMC can not acquire these hill plots because under a zoning the ownership remains with the individuals/institutions. organisations who had purchased the said hill plot.

The PMC can only impose a restriction on the construction size. And, according to the existing restrictions, the hill plot owners are allowed to carry out a construction measuring four percent of the plot area. Now, instead of a "zone" the 1600 hectors of land will be "reserved" and as the land is reserved for a public purpose (bio diversity parks) the owners can not undertake any construction on it. Instead, it will be mandatory for the PMC to acquire this 1600 hectors of land.

Congress member in the planning committee Dilip Tupe pointed out that the committee has also ruled that the hill plot owners should not be compensated by issuing TDR or FSI. "We have ruled that the hill plot owners should be granted monetary compensation as per the government ready reackoner rates," Tupe said.

From The Times of India - December 31, 2004 - by Abhijit Atre
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/977256.cms

< PMT Promises 500 New Buses In Addition To 350 Already On Way; No Hike In Fares | Pune International Film Festival First In India To Institute World Films Competition Section >
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Green Development Proposed In The Development Plan For The 23 Fringe Villages In Pune | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
Green Development plan of PUNE? (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by dogbert on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 01:27:56 AM EST

Of course this is the major change, if implemented practically. But one has to consider whether the allocated funds are enough for it, wht is the timetable decided 2 finish the other necessitated formalities, wht are the proposals 2 maintain such lands after acquisition n how r they going prevent slums mushrooming in such regions of PUNE?

Again, the principles given here are generally acceptable, but are all very anthropocentric. The right of nature and all species to exist/survive, their right to a share of this earth, are ethical principles that are ancient in India, and need to be stated upfront.

Regulatory reforms are indeed very necessary n essential here. Perhaps the biggest "Process related reform" needed is much greater locus standi to the public, in all laws and policies.

There should be institutionalized space for citizens to participate at all levels of decision-making regarding the environment (and development processes that impact on the environment) and of every development plans.

Unfortunately there is not much in the PMC towards this, which weakens its initial principle of decentralisation and people's participation.

I wish you best luck!


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Green Development Proposed In The Development Plan For The 23 Fringe Villages In Pune | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
Related Links
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. Kalmadi
. Also by Sanjay Sharma
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