1 day Ago By Alim Shaikh
Pune: NCP (SP) workers recently protested against the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA)'s existing draft development plan (DP) and alleged a corruption of Rs3,000 crore. NCP (SP)'s Pune unit chief Prashant Jagtap told TOI, "CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Ajit Pawar learnt about the irregularities and corrupt practices adopted while preparing the draft. Thus, the CM has decided to cancel it.
" You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Jagtap urged the govt to prepare and immediately approve a new DP for PMRDA. He said further delays in introducing it would affect the region's development. Earlier this month, PMRDA officials had filed an affidavit in the Bombay HC stating the existing draft DP be cancelled.
Jagtap said financial losses due to corruption should be recovered from those involved. "PMRDA took almost 20 years to prepare a draft DP. We do not want them wasting another decade over the new one," he said.
He claimed that a private individual — allegedly close to Mahayuti's politicians in the govt — accepted money from developers and farmers to manipulate land reservations in the draft DP. "I have audio and video evidence to support my allegations. We will soon meet the CM to demand a probe in the matter," he added.
On Friday, while addressing a gathering in Pimpri Chinchwad, Ajit Pawar had said, "CM Devendra Fadnavis has received many complaints about the existing draft DP of PMRDA. Land owned by poor people was reserved, while builders' land was excluded in an injustice to the common people. Hence, the CM has decided to cancel the draft DP.
" The draft DP was prepared in 2021 during the MVA govt when Uddhav Thackeray was the CM and Eknath Shinde, who was part of the undivided Shiv Sena, was head of the urban development ministry. The draft drew criticism since over 69,000 objections and suggestions were received from citizens. Later, Bombay HC ordered a stay on its implementation, citing procedural and planning lapses.
Meanwhile, PMRDA officials said they had not received any complaints about irregularities or corruption, so far. PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase said, "Issues about the draft DP and objections raised by citizens were discussed in a meeting with the CM in Feb. Ajit Pawar and other concerned officials were present in the meeting.
Around two weeks ago, following the CM's directions, we filed an affidavit in court about cancellation of the draft DP and that all cases regarding objections against it be disposed of." Mhase said authorities would take steps to prepare a new DP once the HC hears the matter and allows the PMRDA to go ahead with cancellation of the existing draft. "The cancellation of the existing draft DP will not affect development works.
Road works for which land has been acquired will be completed, irrespective of whether it was part of the DP or not," he added..
