Journalism of Courage
Ahead of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to the city in the coming week, the district administration is preparing a detailed report to address the Bopkhel issue which had flared up last week with villagers being disallowed to use the road inside the College of Military Engineering (CME) following a High Court order that cited security concerns.
With a technical committee comprising irrigation officials, College of Military Engineering officials, Khadki Ammunition factory officials as well as the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation officials set to give a detailed report on the available options, the villagers can expect relief with some alternative routes being readied for them to touch the highway.
District collector Saurabh Rao said the report would be ready by June 4 and reviewed by June 6 before placing it before the defence minister, who will be in Pune in the coming week to address Cantonment issues in the district.
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The Bopkhel issue had taken a violent turn in the last week of May after the closure of the internal road following a High Court, which has also asked the district administration to submit an affidavit by July 1.
The collector said that the CME authorities were willing to construct the bridge which would connect the village to the Khadki ammunition factory area. From there, the land is marshy and the PCMC would have to take over and construct a 450-metre road to the highway. However, presently, the bridge over the river will connect to the land, which is again defence land. To avoid any kind of future clashes, the Defence Estate Officers have agreed to convert the status of land title from A 1 defence land (only for defence purposes) to C category, which will enable both civilians and defence personnel to use it.
“The temporary bridge and the road are the options that are being explored for relief to Bophel residents and it will done from the southern part of the Mula river,” said Rao.
The construction would happen after the technical committee assesses its feasibility and gives it nod.
On the issue of environment clearances, Rao said that the defence estate office had communicated that it won’t be required in this case. Once a temporary bridge is constructed for motor vehicles, option for a permanent bridge and the road after the bridge to the highway will be explored, said the collector.
