PUNE, April 24: Perhaps for the first time, at least in the civic history of Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation has made a representation to the State Government in response to a public notification by the government and that too through the designated officer.The representation was made on January 12 on behalf of the municipal corporation by the city engineer M B Harihar referring to the notification published by the State Government in The Indian Express on December 18, 1997, and in Prabhat on January 4, 1998 on the government's proposal, bypassing the planning authority Pune Municipal Corporation, to allow 20 per cent residential constructions on Pune's hilltops and hillslopes. It was submitted in the office of the town planning deputy director V N Chaudhari who has been asked by the State Government to give a hearing to citizens' suggestions and objections and then submit a report to the government with his recommendations. The representation does not read as an outright opposition, yet the message conveyed between the lines is loud and clear.
With the merger of fringe villages, the city limits have grown in size from earlier 146 sq km to 430 sq km. There are hills even in the merged areas. Particularly in the new area, Harihar points out. If permission is granted for residential constructions on hilltops and hillslopes, the civic body would have to provide expensive infrastructure like water, drainage and roads, Harihar has argued.
The result would be, the civic body would have to spend huge funds on provision of infrastructure to a comparatively smaller population. A serious study needs to be undertaken on the viability of infrastructural cost that the corporation would have to bear, Harihar cautioned.
The city engineer also pleaded that a comprehensive study be undertaken of this issue before arriving at any decision on the status of this vital segment of the city.
Slums have encroached already upon some of the hills and hillslopes in the city. It is necessary to take into consideration the rehabilitation of these settlers before a decision on the status. Harihar, therefore, suggested that, in fact, instead of taking a sweeping decision, it would be prudent to allow residential constructions only on one or two hills on a pilot basis and then study the consequences.
Chaudhari has begun hearing depositions by citizens from April 20. However, city engineer Harihar has not yet been called.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
