Pune: Charholi Residents Step Up Protest, Announce Bandh Against Proposed TP Schemes

Lohgaon, 29th May 2025: Residents of Charholi have escalated their opposition to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) proposed Town Planning (TP) schemes, calling for a bandh in the area this Friday. The move comes amid fears that the plans will significantly reduce landholdings and threaten the livelihoods of small farmers and landowners.

The PCMC recently unveiled intentions for five TP schemes covering approximately 1,425 hectares in Charholi, following the earlier withdrawal of a similar scheme for Chikhali after local protests. This development has sparked concern among locals who say they have already sacrificed substantial land to earlier infrastructure projects.

Ulhas Kate, a local farmer, voiced his frustration: “We lost land to the petrol pipeline and the widening of the 90-meter road earlier. Now, the corporation has reserved more land in the proposed TP scheme, mostly targeting farmer-owned plots. This is unfair and will devastate those of us who depend on our land.”
Kate added, “If the municipal corporation acquires 40 to 50 percent of our land, what remains will be too small to sustain any meaningful farming or development.”
Most landowners in Charholi are small-scale farmers who rely heavily on their land for income. Their concerns have been echoed by residents who protested at the PCMC office two weeks ago, submitting a formal letter opposing the schemes.

Former PCMC mayor and BJP leader Nitin Kalje, who lives in Charholi, criticized the TP proposals, pointing to their poor track record elsewhere in the state. “Town planning schemes haven’t delivered the expected results in other areas, and even one legal challenge can halt progress for years,” he said.

Kalje further questioned the logic behind the proposed schemes in Charholi, an area already witnessing rapid growth with numerous high-rise residential buildings approved by PCMC. “If the civic body has permitted so many constructions here, how does it justify reserving large tracts of land now? This appears contradictory,” he remarked.

On the other hand, Prasad Gaikwad, Deputy Director of PCMC’s Town Planning Department, called for patience and clarity. “There is some misunderstanding among residents about what these schemes entail. We are conducting awareness programs to explain how planned development can ultimately benefit the community,” he said.

Gaikwad clarified that the corporation had only issued a notice of intention and no final decision has been made. “The process involves multiple stages, including hearing objections. If residents continue to raise concerns, PCMC is willing to reconsider the proposals before moving forward,” he added.
As the deadline for objections approaches, the standoff between Charholi residents and PCMC looks set to continue, with both sides urging dialogue and caution.