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Moving story haunts again

Residents of Wadgaon Budruk are likely to be uprooted again. Originally from Khadakwasla, they were moved to make way for the dam. Now, 80 years later, they might have to make way for a bio-diversity park

Tanaji Khot

Posted On Sunday, February 07, 2010 at 01:25:26 AM

Is this PMC building illegal too?

No method in this madness!

PMC not permitting development or renovation as it is part of BDP in proposed DP, though area was legal for 80 years

PMC’s tax collection office also falls in the BDP. PMC developed a three-storeyed building in place of the village panchayat office

Two sitting corporators, and two former corporators live here

Buildings are being built on hill slopes next to Wadgaon Budruk
n Village temple is also in the BDP

Time does not always heal. That is what the residents of Wadgaon Budruk are realising. Eighty years back, they were displaced from Khadakwasla, so that the dam could be built by the government.

They were resettled in Wadgaon Budruk. Now, the same thing is going to happen to these dam-affected people all over again.

The residents of Wadgaon Budruk came to know only recently that most of their homeland has now been reserved for a bio-diversity park (BDP) in the proposed development plan (DP). This shift, which happened in 1996, has them worried.

The residents are now opposing the proposed DP, and have asked the municipal administration to change the reservation status, so that they are not uprooted again. When one looks closer at the DP, one comes across interesting facts.

The survey numbers which fall in Ambegaon Budruk and neighbours Wadgaon Budruk, are not a part of the BDP, though much of this area is at a greater height and, clearly, should have been marked as a hill slope.

On account of this technicality, people are now constructing multi-storeyed buildings here, despite the land being at a similar or greater height than Wadgaon Budruk. Residents have failed to understand the logic used in declaring Wadgaon Budruk a BDP zone, while sparing Dhankawadi and Ambegaon Budruk areas.

Ironically, as per a district collector’s notification dated 10.11.2003, people of Wadgaon have been living on government land since 1933. Which means, their homes are not illegal. Hence, PMC’s stand is in conflict with the DC’s.

The notification clearly states: “As per the Maharashtra government order of November 1982, Survey No 43,46,47,48 and 49 have been converted to gaothans (village site). As per provisions of Section 122 of the Land Revenue Act, 1966, this rehabilitation is authorised.”

Prior to 1933, Wadgaon Budruk was situated on the banks of the Mutha. It was then moved to Survey No 43, 46, 47, 48 and 49, that is the present area. Another village, Charvadwadi, which was affected by the dam was also rehabilated here.

In 1996, Wadgaon Budruk was made a part of the PMC, along with 23 fringe villages. Then a DP was prepared for this area. According to this proposed DP, more than 50 hectares land, which was marked as residential area when the village panchayat was governing it, was included in the BDP.

This simply means, the 80-year-old residential area is now illegal and will have to be cleared. Haridas Charvad, the leader of residents here, said, “We have the document to prove the land is residential.

We used to pay taxes to the village panchayat then, and now we pay the PMC. Our village has come under PMC only recently. So, how do you deem such a huge residential area illegal? We are going to oppose the plan.’’

Charvad was livid that PMC was permitting constructions in Bibwewadi, Dhankawadi and Ambegaon areas, which are at a greater height and ecologically more important.

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