PMC faces fewer hurdles in merger of 28 villages

The Congress and NCP representatives have urged the chief minister to speed up the merger of villages as there was unplanned real estate growth in the area,which was hampering development work.

The state government had earlier sought the civic administration’s opinion on the inclusion of more villages to the list of 28 villages proposed to be merged with the PMC limits. In its response tabled in the standing committee meeting,Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak said seven villages were geographically located adjoining the area earlier proposed to be merged in the civic jurisdiction and hence could be added to the list.

In October 2012,the state government notified its intention to include 28 more villages to the PMC jurisdiction and redefine the boundaries of the city in all directions.

Later,the government received a demand to add seven more villages to the list,after which it sought the civic administration’s opinion on it. A few more villages – Nandoshi,Vadgaonsheri,Mangdewadi,Bhilarewadi,Gujar Nimbalkarwadi,Jambhulwadi and Kolewadi – expressed their desire to be a part of PMC.

In 1997,when the Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power in the state,the PMC had decided to include 38 villages in its jurisdiction,keeping in mind rapid urbanisation.

However,15 villages were dropped from the list following opposition from villagers

In 2007,the civic administration proposed to bring these 15 villages under the PMC jurisdiction,but a lack of consensus on the issue delayed the decision. It came up for discussion again in December 2011,but a decision on it was further delayed by the elected representatives. The state government then added 13 villages to this list and later increased the number to 28,before proposing the inclusion of seven more villages.