The Town Planning division of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) finds itself inundated with over 8,500 objections and recommendations concerning the proposed integrated development blueprint for the city.
The unveiling of the draft plan on March 7 by the government-appointed designated officer sparked a two-month window for residents to voice their concerns, culminating on May 6. The surge of feedback underscores a palpable discontent among residents, primarily stemming from numerous discrepancies within the draft plan. Grievances range from missing thoroughfares, land reservations, and drainage systems, to encroachments beyond municipal jurisdiction. Furthermore, an oversight in the listing of over 450 religious sites, misallocation of residential zones within green spaces, and erroneous demarcations of slum reservations and Gairan land boundaries have been brought to light. In response to the barrage of objections, Administrator G Srikanth has established a probing committee helmed by Deputy Director of the Town Planning department, Manoj Garje. After conducting extensive on-site surveys across ten prabhags, the committee submitted a comprehensive report outlining technical flaws in the draft plan.
Looking ahead, the corporation pledges a meticulous review of the residents’ feedback, with a slated hearing before a distinguished four-member committee appointed by the state government. The esteemed panel comprises retired officials: Deputy Director Uttareshwar Londe, Assistant Director Asha Dahake, Joint Director Narayan Kulkarni, and Principal Umesh Kahalekar. This inundation of objections underscores the imperative for a judicious re-evaluation of Aurangabad’s developmental trajectory, signalling a pivotal juncture in the municipality’s urban planning endeavours.
