PCMC corporators from 18 merged villages demand share of amenities
A proposal has been put forward by the Maharashtra State Government, to merge about 20 villages including Hinjewadi, Chakan, Dehu, Alandi, and Gahunje with the PCMC. The same is hoped to help in the rapid development of these areas. However, the proposal has been opposed by corporators of 18 villages that were previously merged with the PCMC.
The areas which are currently planned to be merged with the PCMC , are popular localities of Pune. While Chakan is known for its industries, Dehu and Alandi are big pilgrim centres in the city. Gahunje has an international cricket stadium and areas like Maan and Hinjewadi are IT hubs.
Reasons for disapproval
In the year 1997, 18 adjacent villages with a population of 6.25 lakhs, were merged with Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Upon the proposal to add more areas to the existing ones, corporators from these fringe villages raised complaints of being neglected and not having access to basic civic amenities, even after 15 years of becoming a part of the municipal corporation.
The corporators demanded that before any further merging of villages with the PCMC is carried out, the existing 18 fringe villages like Talawade, Kiwale, Wadmukhwadi, Charholi, Chowiswadi, Dighi, Bopkhel, Ravet, Chikhli, Punawale, Mamurdi, Moshi and parts of Wakad, should be properly developed.
National Congress Party corporator, Vinaya Tapkir informed that the civic body has not made any reservations for civic amenities in its development plan (DP) of Charholi village. Reserved plots are left unattended and undeveloped in many regions of the locality. There are no proper roads to link the wadis and other settlements. He told that the civic authorities must concentrate on providing public amenities in such areas, before merging more villages to it.
Suresh Mhetre, group leader of corporators in the PCMC and a representative of Chikhli, informed that the corporators do not have any objection in the merging of more villages to the PCMC, if the civic body implements 90% development in the previously merged villages. He also said that there are possibilities of industries in Chakan to move out of the area, if the merging happens, as otherwise, they would be forced to pay the Local Body Tax. Mhetre told that the state government must decide about the decision to merge cities, only after considering such factors.
Corporators complained that the civic body had failed to meet the expectations of villagers and that even though most of the areas that were previously merged with the PCMC were witnessing rapid development, they were still lacking basic amenities and facilities. Roads in most of these villages are still under developed and drainage system is pathetic. There is no adequate water supply in these localities and the areas lack proper streetlights. Localities Ravet, Kiwale, Punawale and others have scattered settlements, which are not properly linked due to lack of proper roads. The residents of these villages are facing trouble as they have no access to public toilets, gardens or civic hospitals.
