PUNE: The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has agreed to transfer, free of cost, reserved land to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for developmental projects.

Speaking to reporters, PCMC commissioner Ashish Sharma said, "The PCMC has reserved many plots for various public amenities in MIDC areas in the Development Plan. We have been facing hurdles in acquiring these plots. A number of meetings were held with MIDC officials, but they wanted to give the plots to the PCMC at commercial rates. A meeting was held with CEO K Shivaji a few days back and the MIDC has now agreed to transfer the plots without any charges."

Regarding the complaints from residents about the smoke emanating from the garbage depot at Moshi, Sharma said, "Fires have been breaking out because of the firecrackers that have been dumped there along with the garbage collected during Diwali. We are covering the garbage with murum' to extinguish the fires."

Sharma said that the PCMC had begun work on construction of houses under the housing scheme for economically weaker section at Chikhli. Construction of 43 buildings was in progress. The PCMC would start handing over the houses to beneficiaries from March 2011.