In a bid to address the persistent issue of unauthorized constructions, Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to take immediate action to halt such activities and prevent new unauthorized constructions in the newly merged villages.
Background: In 2017, 11 villages were incorporated into the PMC jurisdiction, followed by the inclusion of 23 more villages in 2021. Minister Uday Samant raised concerns about rampant illegal construction in these areas during a recent speech, prompting decisive action.
Regulation Measures: Responding to concerns about potential losses if constructions are halted midway, Vadgaon Sheri MLA Sunil Tingre, Samant emphasized the role of the PMC’s Town Planning Authority for the villages included in 2017 and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) as the special planning authority for the villages added in 2021.
Under the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act, unauthorized constructions before December 31, 2015, were to be regulated as ‘temporary structures’ under Development Control Rules. PMC has successfully regulated 104 such constructions. Samant highlighted that the Maharashtra Gunthewari Development Act provides an opportunity to regularize unauthorized constructions and vacant plots done before December 31, 2020, by the Gunthewari method. PMC has regulated 24 constructions under this act from 2021.
Additionally, small plot holders have the provision for construction as per the approved Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) of the government.
Minister Samant emphasized the need for strict adherence to regulations and urban planning guidelines to curb unauthorized constructions effectively.
