Pune metropolitan region to become investment hub
International investment destination is the main principle of PMRDA said PMRDA chief executive officer Mahesh Zagade.
He was speaking at Patrakar Bhavan during an interaction with reporters organized by Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) on Thursday, 23rd of July. The Pune Metropolitan Development Authority (PMRDA) is the governing body of Pune metropolitan area. The jurisdiction of PMRDA covers Maval, Pune,parts of Haveli, Bhor, Daund, Shirur, Mulshi and Khed talukas of Pune district.
PMRDA was established on 31st of March 2015 and has its office located in Nigdi.
Zagade said,”We are already lagging behind by 20 years hence there is need to fill this gap by some systematic procedure which consists of existing land use study, developmental plan and then its implementation. Minimum bureaucracy would help this happen at a speedy rate.”
The decision of area extension was made on the 29th of May 2015. “Section 42 of the MRTP Act which was amended in 2009-10 states that there should be Pradhikaran (area development authority) everywhere.
Various principles like sustainable development, economic development, recognition of various heritage sites and creating landmarks and circuits would be taken into consideration during the planning of modules. Plans that would profit residential people are also being designed,” Zagade added.
The PMRDA plans to choose the highest liveability index which will set high standards of living and develop the cultural activities. Environmental reports in which lowest energy intensity per capita will be done as energy is getting costly day by day and the carbon balance in already in negativity.
He expects to overcome lacunae and form new modules and wants to go beyond the the age old tradition of using files and giving more importance to staff.
Zagade informed that PMRDA has to generate its own funds. “The economic development plan which will go beyond the actual land use plan. The ideas like Georeferencing will be promoted and implemented which would make obtaining information easier in future. The economic development plan will be formulated in the next 5-7 months which will mainly focus on decongestion of Pune along with the problems related to water supply, sewage, solid waste management etc. To achieve all this, private investment as well as foreign direct investment (FDI) should be initiated,” Zagade added.
When asked about the conflict in redevelopment of slums because of officers and politicians, he said, “we should know how to tackle political interference.”
When asked about the challenges faced Zagade said, “Tradition and thinking needs to be changed. Change in the way of everyone’s thinking and then attaining the set margin is the biggest challenge. Traffic, pollution, redevelopment of slums etc, all these problems are arousing on an alarming rate due to lack of proper implementation of laws.Give me any responsibility, I do it to the level of perfection. Let it be education, law enforcement etc.”
Zagade further said that PMRDA has sent a proposal to state and Central governments to include cantonment areas of Pune, Khadki and Dehu Road, under its jurisdiction. ” PMRDA will only plan development, while local civic bodies will execute them,” Zagade said.
Sanchita Garule is a student of environmental science at Fergusson College, Pune)
