Pune: The state govt on Monday announced the formation of a high-level committee to resolve the long-standing “red zone” restrictions in Pimpri Chinchwad.The panel, comprising officials from the state govt, defence authorities, the district collector’s office, and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), will recommend measures to provide relief to thousands of affected residents.Responding to a discussion in the state assembly, minister Madhuri Misal stated that the committee is tasked with submitting its report within a month. Once the report is finalised, the state govt will forward it to the Centre to formally request a reduction in the red zone boundaries.“Once the report is received, we will request the chief minister and the Union defence minister to hold a meeting to find a permanent solution,” Misal told the House.The issue was raised by Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge, who highlighted that property owners within the red zone have been deprived of basic civic amenities for years due to stringent development restrictions. Landge noted that during Manohar Parrikar’s tenure as defence minister, there was a consensus to reduce the red zone limit from 2,000 yards to 500 yards, but the proposal failed to progress.Misal noted that a recent survey indicated the boundary could potentially be reduced by nearly 100 metres, though she clarified that the final decision rests with the central govt.According to civic officials, over 40,000 residential, commercial, and industrial properties fall within these restricted zones.Under the Works of Defence Act, 1903, construction is prohibited within a 2,000-yard radius of the Dehu Road Ordnance Depot and 1,200 yards of the Dighi Magazine Depot. Because construction is banned, these properties are classified as “unauthorised,” preventing the PCMC from providing essential infrastructure and development works.While chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured a solution during last year’s session, residents have complained of a lack of progress on the ground.To provide immediate relief, Misal announced that the PCMC has decided to grant a 50% concession in property tax for structures located within the red zone. She acknowledged that many of these buildings had received local administration approvals before the 2013 notification of the red zone limits came into force.
