Pimpri-Chinchwad’s dream of becoming a slum-free city received a body blow with the central government directing the civic body to wind up the project by March 31. This would mean the dreams of 11,000 slum-dwellers’ families, who were promised a 270 sq ft flat each for Rs 50,000, will be shattered.

“The central government asked us to wind up the plan by March 31 as it is planning another scheme of houses for all,” said PCMC joint city engineer Rajan Patil. Civic officials said the BSUP plan supposed to be completed by 2010 has been delayed as the Bombay High Court has stayed construction of over 11,000 flats due to issues of violation of laid down norms. “Since the issue has been before the court for quite some time, the project work continues to remain stalled. And now the Centre has told us to complete all the work by March 31. Since we will not be able to complete the work by the deadline, we have decided to wind up the project,” said Patil.

Under the Central Government’s Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP), PCMC launched a plan to rehabilitate 18,000 slum-dwellers’ families in 2007 and make Pimpri Chinchwad free of slums. It was a Rs 369-crore project of which the Centre’s share was to be 50 per cent, the state government’s 30 per cent and PCMC’s 20 per cent. The scheme was to be completed in 2010, but was caught in court litigations.

Of the 18,000-flat scheme, PCMC constructed around 5,000 flats in Milindnagar, Vetalnagar, Ajanthanagar and Vithalnagar and distributed them to slum-dwellers. Officials said another 2,000 flats are ready for distribution.

Officials said the flat plan remained embroiled in controversy for long. The flats were to be constructed in Sector 22 of the Pradhikaran area.

Corporator Seema Savle and BJP leader Sarang Kamtekar moved court against alleged violations by the PCMC including carrying out constructions in the Red Zone, for the 11,000-flat scheme. Savle and Kamtekar brought it to the notice of the court that proper permissions were not taken by PCMC from relevant authorities before going ahead with construction. Of the 11,000 flats, PCMC constructed 3,000 flats.

Both Savle and Kamtekar, who earned the reputation of taking up the cause of slum-dwellers say they are happy the project has been wound up. “When a project is a threat to national security and steeped in corruption, it has to stop. Southern Command had written to PCMC pointing out that the 11,000 flat project in Sector 22 was a threat to national security as it was coming up within the prohibited area of Dehu Road ordinance depot,” said Savle.

Besides, Kamtekar said the project cost initially estimated at Rs 369 crore crossed Rs 600 crore. He alleged corruption. They handed over one of the project works to a builder without inviting tenders. “That is the reason we approached the court as PCMC refused to mend its ways,” says Kamtekar.

“However, we are hopeful the scheme will be revived by the Centre, which has declared its plan for houses for all,” officials said.

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