Red zone maps authenticated, district admin asks: Who will pay survey cost?

The district administration had readied a report regarding demarcation of the red zone around Dehu Road ammunition depot and forwarded it to defence authorities .

"Last week, we held a meeting and the authenticated maps readied by us were forwarded to various departments. However, even as the court case is on, we are awaiting a decision on who will bear the expenses of the survey, which will be followed by land acquisition,'' said resident deputy collector Anil Pawar.

The administration, in their report, had stated that defence authorities would have to bear the estimated expenses of Rs 7 crore for the entire demarcation process, including Rs 43 lakh for construction of boundary. The administration has submitted maps related to the demarcation.

The collector has also written to the government for extra manpower for the drive. "With the maps authenticated, it is to be checked by superintendent of land records for boundar demarcation. The budget for that will have to be given by defence authorities,'' said resident deputy collector Anil Pawar.

However, there is confusion on who would bear the expense, he added. District officials conducted a recce, fused maps through satellite images and handed over the maps to defence officials for suggestions.

To avoid confusion among people, talathis concerned are issuing seven by twelve extracts mentioning the red zone. With the Bombay High Court ordering the Pune district collectorate to demarcate red zone boundaries around the depot, the Defence Ministry had filed an affidavit in Bombay High Court and claimed, citing security reasons, that the red zone of Dehu Road ammunition depot would not be reduced.

This came after a petition by Shiv Sena corporator Seema Salve against the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for construction activities, including a housing scheme for urban poor in the zone where no development is allowed as per law.

The demarcation would affect not only the upcoming housing project but also some MIDC areas. Salve had alleged that the housing project violated the Works of Defence Act and did not have necessary environmental clearance.

The Defence authorities staed in the Bombay High Court that the PCMC overstepped its limits in going ahead with construction of the 11,760-unit housing project at Sector 22 without obtaining their clearance.

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