Pune: High Court Orders PMRDA To Consult Local Self-Government Bodies Before Finalizing Development Plan
Pune, 4th March 2023: The Bombay High Court has ordered that the draft development plan (DP) prepared by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) should be submitted to the local self-government bodies before finalizing it. This comes after a public interest litigation was filed objecting to the PMRDA plan, citing the exclusion of local self-government bodies. The court has stated that the government should seek approval from the local self-government bodies before finalizing the plan.
PMRDA had prepared a draft development plan in July 2021 and called for objections, followed by a hearing. The petition was filed by Vasant Bhise, Sukhdev Tapkir, and Deepali Hulawle. The court observed that the PMRDA planning committee had vacancies due to the end of the tenure of some members, and ordered the Urban Development Department of the Maharashtra State Government, PMRDA Planning Committee, and PMRDA to submit the plan to the court before finalizing it.
The petitioners argue that the plan cannot be finalized as the planning committee has some vacant posts. The court has allowed the work of preparing the report regarding suggestions, objections, and hearings on the plan to continue, but has mandated that the plan be submitted to the local self-government bodies for approval.
PMRDA does not have a planning committee, so a committee consisting of office-bearers of local self-government bodies was formed, with 30 members. The court’s order is expected to lead to the inclusion of local self-government bodies in the development plan preparation process.
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