Red zone: pcntda to conduct micro study of affected plots

Study will enable citizens to know if their property falls in the no-development area. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Township Development Authority (PCNTDA) has decided to rope in a private agency to

conduct micro-level measurement of each plot affected by the red zone. The study will help the citizens get an exact idea if their property falls in the red zone. PCNTDA chief executive

officer Dr Yogesh Mhase told DNA, “The PCNTDA has decided to appoint a private agency to conduct the micro level measurement of four sectors of PCNTDA which are affected by the red zone.”

The authority will appoint the same agency which had prepared the red zone maps for conducting the micro study of its area. PCNTDA had stopped giving new building permissions to 20 to 21

sectors due to the uncertainty about how much of the area under these sectors will be affected by the no-development restrictions of the Dehu Ammunition Depot red zone. Major part of these

sectors falls under the radius marking shown in the map of red zone prepared by defence authorities. PCNTDA officials said that no building permission will be granted in these sectors in

future also. Though the defence authorities have released maps of red zone, the residents are not getting exact idea if their plots are affected. Replying to a question about the action

PCNTDA will take on properties falling under the red zone, Mhase said, “The decision in this regard will be taken by the district collector. The defence authorities have clarified that they

will not reduce the marking at all and the red zone maps released are final.” PCNTDA officials said that the owners of affected properties will get compensation and there are chances of a

departmental inquiry being instituted against the officials who gave building permissions on the affected plots. The defence authorities released red zone maps on February 25. Confusion over

the maps continues as the defence authorities have demarcated the areas on the basis of survey numbers while the PCNTDA has been developed on the basis of sectors.