The Times of India                     29.10.2010

PMC wants nullah survey report in DP

 PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC) has proposed the incorporation of the nullah survey report, prepared by PrimMove Infrastructure Development Consultants Pvt. Ltd, into the Development Plan (DP) of the city.

In a detailed report tabled before the City Improvement Committee (CIC), the civic administration has said, “the building and development plan department has started implementing the survey report. This can be incorporated into the DP as well for citizens’ convenience”.

The standing committee on December 27, 2005, had appointed the private body to carry out the survey. The company had submitted the report in March 2007.

The civic administration wants to incorporate the survey into the new DP as it would bring in strict clauses in building permissions, which will prevent constructions on any natural nullah or water body.

In the report, Pune city is divided into 23 watersheds and areas where nullahs have been encroached upon are identified. A total of 234 nullahs have been identified, and their lengths add up to 362.11 kilometres. Of this, 15.93 kilometres are fully obstructed and 51.89 kilometres partially encroached.

As per the survey, Kondhwa has 40,436 metres of nallahs. Of this, 3,084 metres are fully obstructed and 1,116 metres are partially obstructed. In Kothrud, of the 19,449 metres of nullahs, 1,155 metres has been encroached upon and 4,518 metres are partially obstructed.

Wadgaonsheri has 16,236 metres of nullah. Of this, 3,326 metres are obstructed and 5,050 metres are partially obstructed.

Bavdhan and Pashan together have 40,599 metres of nullahs. Of this, 2,773 metres are fully obstructed and 7,300 metres partially encroached upon.

Aundh, again a well-developed part of the city where a lot of bungalows have been built, has 9,556 metres of nullahs, of which 1,200 metres is fully encroached upon and 2,500 metres partially encroached.

“The city has 1028.40 kilometres of stormwater drains and under the central government-sponsored programme, another 81.71 kilomteres will be developed. However, there is still a need to develop 891.08 kilometres along with protecting the natural nullahs” states the report tabled before the CIC.

The DP for Pune was drafted in 1982 and passed in 1987. The plan would have expired in 1997, had it been completely executed. However, the civic administration managed to execute only 20 per cent of it, thus receiving an extension of 10 years. Thereafter, the deadline ended in January 2007. However, the state government again gave an extension to civic body. With that deadline too nearing, the civic administration will now have to table a new DP in December 2010.