 |
|||||||
 www.punescoop.com |
|
|
|||||
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
PMC Acquires 421 Properties In 2007-08By Dr arvind, Section News
The Pune Municipal Corporation's land acquisition department has created a record of sorts by acquiring as much as 6.15 lakh square meter land in one year (2007-08). This is much more that the 4.76 lakh square metre of land acquired by the civic body during the four-year period (2003-2007) before that.
In terms of the number of properties acquired, 159 were acquired in the four year period and 421 in 2007-08. Ironically, the PMC has always been criticised for slow land acquisition that resulted in the delayed implementation of the 1987 Development Plan (DP). The civic body has, however, spruced up its act now. This feat is inspite of the poor response the civic body got from private agencies to its request to help it in land acquisition work. The PMC had invited bids from private agencies for large scale acquisition work. Speaking to TOI, deputy commissioner incharge of land acquisition department K.C. Karkar said that one or two agencies had come forward but they did not prove to be very efficient.
"They were not efficient so we did not see any point in wasting money on them and continued with the work through the department itself. Most of the work is being carried out by department itself. Only five junior engineers have been roped in on a temporary basis," Karkar said.
Karkar pointed out that most of the property owners have opted for Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) as compensation instead of cash. "The exact figures for how much TDR has been granted is not available as yet. The process takes some time. However, property owners' inclination is towards seeking TDR and we give them in writing that TDR will be granted in due course," Karkar said adding that although the number of people seeking cash compensation are less, the amount spent on land acquisition is higher this year. "Rs 50 crore was allocated for land acquisitions in the 2007-08 budget and the entire amount was spent. We had to divert an additional amount of Rs 40 crore," Karkar said. He attributed the boost in land acquisition work to the large number ongoing road projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the projects in view of Commonwealth Youth Games.
PMC Acquires 421 Properties In 2007-08 | 0 comments (0 topical, 0 hidden)
|
