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Journalism of Courage
Expressing concern over the changes made in the Development Plan DP of the Baner-Balewadi, two of the 23 merged villages of the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC, the civic standing committee chairman Shyam Deshpande and environment activist Vandana Chavan have alleged that the state government has directly lifted the reservations without intimating anybody. They have also demanded that the map of the changed DP be made public.
The draft DP for the 23 merged villages has been divided into 10 units and first unit of Baner and Balewadi villages was approved by the government at a meeting attended, among others, by Minister of State for Urban Affairs Rajesh Tope, Additional Chief Secretary Ramanand Tiwari, Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale, Municipal Commissioner Praveensinh Pardeshi and City Engineer Prashant Waghmare, in January.
However, regarding the changes made by the state, Deshpande said, 8220;The state government has made changes in the DP of the Baner-Balewadi and issued a notification to this effect on August13. Despite this, the state government has not yet made available the map of this changed plan for the people to register their suggestions and objections. It is improper on government8217;s part to lift the reservations earmarked for gardens or as playgrounds.8221;
Chavan said, 8220;The state government has completely altered the DP the reservations meant for gardens, garbage processing units, hot-mix plants has been removed. The path of the road has been lifted from one place and put in the land reserved for Biodiversity Parks BDP. The reservations meant for increasing the green cover, are being turned into residential places. All this is objectionable, especially when the PMC general body had sent the DP.8221; Deshpande and Chavan are soon going to tender a memorandum demanding the speedy availability of the altered DP maps.
