KOLHAPUR: On Tuesday evening, the Kolhapur City Civic Action Committee convened with the deputy director of the town planning department regarding the draft of the municipal corporation’s third development plan. The committee expressed concerns, claiming the plan has become focused solely on imposing and lifting reservations.
Committee members highlighted a troubling trend: as the city’s population and vehicle count have surged, the availability of essential community spaces—such as gardens, playgrounds, schools, parking lots, and open areas—has diminished. They pointed out that the second revised development plan for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) was valid from 1911 to 2011, yet the anticipated third plan has yet to be implemented.
The committee emphasized the need for the development plan to systematically organize various urban elements, thereby crafting a forward-looking vision that enhances the city’s functionality, efficiency, and attractiveness. They remarked that since the Kolhapur Municipal Council’s area was recorded at 66.82 sq km in 1951, it has remained unchanged since the establishment of the municipal corporation in 1971.
Activist Baba Indulkar remarked, “According to Section 63 of the Municipal Corporation Act, it is essential for the municipal corporation to include gardens, playgrounds, schools, health services, and various community facilities in the planning process.”
Baba Parte, another activist, questioned, “With the city’s population on the rise, how can we ensure the provision of civic services? If Guardian Minister Madhuri Misal has stated that the merger issue for Kolhapur will be resolved by 2027, why the rush for the third development plan?”
In response to the delegation, Dileep Kadam, deputy director of the town planning department, stated, “We will consider both the written and oral suggestions from the civic action committee regarding the revision of the third development plan. We will also ensure improved execution by sector. A meeting with KMC officials will be arranged soon.”
