Pimpri-Chinchwad Notes

Mayor’s challenge to MP Babar

More on the octroi stand-off: Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Yogesh Behl has challenged Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Babar,who is leading the campaign against octroi,to first get octroi scrapped in the Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. “In Mumbai,octroi is the major source of revenue for BMC which is ruled by the Shiv Sena. If Babar,who belongs to the Sena,gets his party to scrap octroi in Mumbai,the PCMC will not hesitate to do so,” he said. In response,the Shiv Sena has criticised the Mayor saying the octroi hike is nothing but an attempt by NCP to “cover up its misuse of public money in PCMC.” Sena leader Sarang Kamtekar,a close aide of Babar,said,”PCMC should not try to compare with BMC which is giving free houses to poor,it has neither hiked property tax nor is it levying high water charges like the PCMC.” He said the industrialists where first demanding lowering of octroi hike,but are now insisting on scrapping of octroi.

Residents near Dighi depot panic

Residents in the vicinity of Dighi Magazine Depot — better known as Red Zone area — seem to be frantically trying to sell their properties. This was after Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band called for implementation of his order — issued in 2005 as PCMC civic chief — for demolishing 250 constructions falling within 610 metres of the outer boundary of Dighi Magazine Depot. Pravin R,a resident,who has rented out two rooms in the area,said he has contacted a builder about selling his property. “After the order for demolition,I am not sure whether my property will surive or not,” he said. Many of the residents have contacted real estate agents are ready to sell of their properties at half the rate. Thousands of residents had bought flats and land in the area despite an Army-imposed ban on any construction activity.

(Contributed by Manoj More)