Citizens’ group opposes move to allow building on hill slopes

PUNE, Jan 6: The Express Citizen’s Forum (ECF) has resolved to oppose the latest proposal of the state government to allow residential construction on hill tops and hill slopes. They have also appealed to citizens who feel disturbed about the same to file in their objections.

According to the ECF, this drastic step is a major modification in the Development Plan of the city which will tarnish its entire face, change its skyline for the worse and will also add to congestion. Every citizen has the legal right to file an objection against any move that would adversely affect the quality of life in the city and should exercise this right, said an ECF spokesperson.

The decision to appeal to citizens to file their own objections and to file its own objections (the ECF’s) was taken at the General Body meeting of the forum on Saturday. V D Kulkarni, former deputy director of town planning, and P R Kulkarni, former assistant director of town planning, Maharashtra, pointed out that as many as 150 hectares out of the existing 727 hectares of precious hill tops and hill slopes of the pre-merger Pune municipal area will be allocated for construction. Going by the most stringent town planning norms an increase in the population by 1.5 lakh would then be accommodated on this precious land, thus adding to congestion.