Revised regional plan by next year,PMRDA proposal still stuck

“With huge hapahazard development in areas spread in 10-km radius of the corporation limits,it is essential to have a basic plan to bring some order. The existing regional plan was drafted in 1990 and with the ground situation having changed drastically,it is essential to have a new revised regional plan,’’ district collector Vikas Deshmukh said.

The government has asked the town planning department to revise the plan by next year but the PMRDA plan is still pending. The regional development authority,mooted in 1997 and cleared by the government in 1999,will be spread over 1,340 sq km,covering Pune,Pimpri-Chinchwad and three cantonments — Pune,Khadki and Dehuroad.

The first plan for 1970-1991,sanctioned by the state,came into force in May 1976 while the new regional plan in 1990 — applicable till 2011 — was approved by the government in 1997. Largescale encroachments in these areas have forced the government to bring in the new plan as early as possible. The urban development department has,meanwhile,laid down guidelines to strictly implement the development control rules within a 10-km radius of municipal limits.

A metropolitan planning committee has been set up as part of the PMRDA plan,but its members are yet to meet.

The chief minister had,in April,stated that the final decision on PMRDA will be taken after basic recommendations by a study group. The difference of opinion between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party over the PMRDA’s role is another reason for the delay.

Senior officials from the urban development department said the plan,if implemented on the lines of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA),would ensure proper phase-wise development.

Replying to a calling attention motion,the chief minister had said that the difference of opinion over the chairmanship has been among the main contentions. The Congress wanted the CM as chairman while NCP wanted the Deputy CM at the helm of affairs.

Power utility instals RF meters to avoid errors

To ensure accurate billing and do away with meter reading errors,the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is now installing radio frequency (RF) and infra red (IR) electricity meters.

A statement issued by MSEDCL said RF meters will be used in urban areas,while infra red meters will be used in rural areas. Distribution of meters will be done in a phased manner. In the first phase,14,000 RF and 25,000 IR meters will be installed in Pune zone.

At present,the power utility uses photo meter reading system where meter recording is taken by clicking a photograph of the consumer’s electricity meter. In the new RF and IR meters,reading will be taken through hand held units,attached to computers in the IT section of the MSEDCL.

Once the RF meters are installed,a meter reader does not have to visit each and every house to take the reading. Using the hand held unit,recordings can be taken within a 30 metre radius.The system will ensure fast and accurate meter readings,MSEDCL managing director Ajay Mehta said.

Mehta inspected the RF meters installed at Laxmi Road on Tuesday. S P Nagtilak,Pune zone chief engineer,was also present.