Pune municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao has promised to “load” bio-diverstiy park (BDP) reservations onto the 7/12 extracts of land owners, to prevent sale of lands within the BDP area.
Rao gave this assurance during a meeting with NGOs to discuss the BDP issue.
Recently, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took a decision not to allow any construction in the BDP reservation zone and give 8 % TDR (transfer of development rights) as compensation.
NCP MP, Vandana Chavan, social worker Baba Adhav, industrialist Aurn Firodia, Maj Gen (retd) SCN Jatar, Anita Benninger, and NGO representatives Sujit Pathwardhan, Sarang Yadwadkar and Ravindra Dharia were among those present at the meeting.
The NGOs have welcomed the state government’s decision to protect the BDP in the city and discussed steps to that effect.
A total of 978 hectares of land on the hills around Pune constitute the bio-diversity park (BDP) zone. The PMC had proposed the BDP demarcation in 2005 while preparing the development plan for 23 merged villages, which included city hills such as Baner, Bavdhan, Katraj, Kondhwa, Bibvewadi and Sinhagad road, among others. Of the 978 hectares, 124 hectares is government-owned and the remaining 854 hectares is owned by private parties. In August 2015, the state government had issued a notification stating that no construction would be allowed in the BDP.
During his meeting on Wednesday, Rao said that it is now PMC’s responsibility to protect these lands and if necessary, the PMC will raise separate funds for it. He said that the PMC administration will discuss the issue with the revenue department and will ask it to reload BDP reservation on 7/12 extract of the land owners.
{{/usCountry}}During his meeting on Wednesday, Rao said that it is now PMC’s responsibility to protect these lands and if necessary, the PMC will raise separate funds for it. He said that the PMC administration will discuss the issue with the revenue department and will ask it to reload BDP reservation on 7/12 extract of the land owners.
{{/usCountry}}The civic commissioner also promised to stop illegal construction and use satellite images, if necessary, to remove encroachments on the land.
NCP leader Vandana Chavan said that these hills needs to be protected as they are vital for the city and the health of its residents. The PMC must ensure that there are no slums on these hills in future, Chavan said, adding that the PMC needs to start the process to acquire government lands.
Maj Gen Jatar said that PMC must start patrolling in the BDP area to keep a watch on encroachments.
NGOs contribute money for vigilance on BDP land
Some NGOs came forward to make a financial contribution to protect the BDP lands. While industralist Arun Firodia announced a contribution of Rs 10 lakh for vigilance on BDP lands, Maj Gen Jatar offered Rs 10,000 for the same purpose. The NGOs appealed to the municipal commissioner to use this money to create a vigilance squad and ensure that there were no slums or illegal constructions on the BDP lands in future.