PCMC revives proposal for merger of 9 villages

PIMPRI: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has revived the proposal for merger of nine villages, including Hinjawadi, in its limits. Earlier, the proposal was put on hold, as most of the villages were opposed to it. 

The merger of the Hinjawadi in municipal limits is likely to solve all pending problems of the rapidly urbanised village located in the biggest infotech park of the country. 

A proposal regarding this was submitted by PCMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar to the General Body to get its nod for submitting a fresh proposal to the State government. The discussion on the proposal is expected in the General Body meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 20.

According to the proposal, the civic body is planning to merge seven villages adjacent to western side of the city, which include Hinjawadi, Marunji, Jambe, Gahunje, Nere and Sangwade. 

Also, two villages Dehu and Vitthalwadi are proposed to be included in PCMC limits. After getting the nod from the General Body, the civic body is going to send a fresh proposal to the State government. 

Earlier in June 2016, the State government had rejected PCMC’s demand to merge the seven villages in the municipal limits. The State had, however, made its inclination to merge 34 villages in PMC limits.

The State had rejected the proposal stating that Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) had been set up in 2015, which will conduct development in these areas, and hence there is no need to merge these villages into PCMC limits. 

The Municipal Commissioner has written to the Pune divisional commissioner to appeal to the State government to reconsider the decision. 

“Considering the current pace of development in these villages, there is urgent need for merger of these villages into PMC limits,” Municipal Commissioner Hardikar stated in the proposal, which is submitted before the civic General Body.