Jagran\CityPlusB D Narayankar
Feb 27, Pune: The 'illegal' construction of a two-storeyed building on Survey No. 85/A has alarmed area residents. The apparent haste with which the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is constructing the two-storeyed otta market under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has raised eyebrows.
Residents of Survey No. 85/A are skeptical about PMC's sincerity. They contend that the structure doesn't look like an otta market as such markets do not have roofs. They also complain that the structure is being built on a plot marked for 'amenity'. Such spaces are usually reserved for parks and gardens.
"The creation of a commercial complex or a market on this plot will not only create major traffic congestion, but also create a safety problem in the event of fire, riots or other natural or man-made calamities," complains a resident.
"There is no access for fire engines and ambulances and police vehicles in the event of any eventuality in the commercial complex. Waste would pose a potential health hazard for the local community. There is inadequate place for reversing garbage trucks. The creation of the commercial complex or market also poses significant security threat on a secluded road," add the residents.
The creation of the commercial complex will also create a significant loss of peace in a residential area with noise from the commercial activities as well as traffic. The presence of a commercial complex will mean that there will be 24x7 activity in the middle of a residential area.
The catch in the tale is that the haste with which PMC has gone about this project.
Residents are questioning the PMC's decision to shift otta market from Survey No. 77 to Survey No. 85/A. The market at Survey No. 77 was planned at an estimated cost of Rs 1.76 crore on August 26, 2008.
The PMC standing committee passed another resolution on September 17, 2008 for shifting of the market on September 17 and construction started by early October at a very fast pace. "On the one hand, PMC is claiming shortage of funds for ongoing road widening projects, whereas this project, which has no use for local residents, has gone on at unprecedented pace. What is the urgency for this project. There's something fishy about it all," a resident complains.
"Despite the freezing of Baner Development Plan due to controversy, PMC is violating the freeze and DP reservations by carrying out several construction activities illegally. One such activity is the Otta Market. This needs to be stopped immediately," says a resident.
BJP corporator Ujjwal Keskar says that the structure was illegal on two points - first, one cannot build a structure on a land earmarked for parks and second, the tender cannot be shifted. "The tender was issued hastily."
He also said that under section 4/1/C and D, PMC should inform concerned people. In this case PMC has not informed residents of the plan.
However, Prashant Waghmare, engineer with PMC disagrees. "PMC can construct otta market on amenity spaces, there is no need to inform residents as the land belongs to PMC.
"I think PMC is constructing an otta market and not a mandai. Everybody says they do not want public amenities near them. So where do we construct such projects? The otta market will fulfill their needs too," he says.
"PMC can construct otta market on amenity spaces, there is no need to inform residents as the land belongs to PMC. I think PMC is constructing an otta market and not a mandi. Everybody says they do not want public amenities near them. So where do we construct such projects? The otta market will fulfill their needs too."
–Prashant Waghmare, PMC engineer
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