The city’s open spaces, environment and infrastructure will be given top priority in the revised development plan (DP). However, civic officials said the plan will be delayed further because the consultants have asked for more time to prepare it in a comprehensive manner. The revised DP will include reservations for a sewage water treatment project, desalination plant, police station, women support centres (Mahila Aadhar kendra), municipal schools and markets.
“Open spaces, environment and infrastructure are the most important aspects in the city’s growth and they should be considered first,” said Ulhas Rane, director of the Envirodesigners Pvt Ltd, the company which is helping the civic body make the revised DP.
On Monday, the civic improvements committee cleared the proposal for an extension of 30 months (two-and half-years) to make the DP, which was sought by a consortium led by Groupe SCE India Pvt Ltd.
The civic body has allotted the work to a consortium of Indian and French firms to prepare a revised DP at the cost of Rs5.48 crore. The DP is important because it will decide the reservations for civic amenities, public utilities, open spaces and will also set guidelines for the civic body on giving permission for construction of taller buildings in the city.
“The revised DP will be delayed because of a procedural lapse by the civic body,” said Bhalchandra Shirsat, chairman of the improvements committee.
He assured that the committee would keep a close eye on the developments. “The civic administration will have to submit a progress report every three months,” Shirsat said.
With the delay, consultants may complete the plan by July 2013 instead of June 2011. After the plan is made, six months will be required to complete mandatory procedures such as inviting suggestions and objections from people before it is finally enforced.
