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Pune civic body mandates project names in Marathi for developers

Representative image created by AI PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has mandated that developers display the names of residential and commercial projects in Marathi. “The central government has granted Marathi the status of a classical language. It’s essential for all projects under PMC’s jurisdiction to prominently feature their names in Marathi,” stated PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram in a circular released on Friday. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) advocated for this rule. MNS member Prashant Kanojia remarked, “Many developers have neglected the requirement to display names in Marathi. This new directive from the civic administration will enforce compliance.” Kanojia…

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Pune: Property Tax Discounts for Green Buildings Double in 6 Years

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently released its Environment Status Report (ESR), highlighting that the number of beneficiaries receiving discounts on property tax for adhering to green building norms has doubled over the past six years. This raises a critical question: Are these positive outcomes visible on the ground? Citizens, activists, and experts are calling for improved oversight of compliance by local authorities. The ‘green discount’ offers property owners a 5-10% reduction in property tax if they have installed solar and vermicomposting systems. According to PMC’s ESR, around 86,000 property owners benefitted from this incentive in 2019-20, which surged…

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Property Owners Hope for Regularisation as Maharashtra Scraps Act

PUNE: Thousands of property owners under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and other civic bodies are expected to receive relief as the government has repealed the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act (amended in 2015), commonly referred to as the Tukde Bandi law. This legislation imposed restrictions on subdividing land into smaller plots. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced during a recent assembly session that the state will now regularize land divisions of up to one guntha (1,089 square feet) made before January 1, 2025. This change will allow property owners to obtain registrations, building permits, and legal…

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Residents Seek FSI Clarity Post Pune-Khadki Merger Approval

PUNE: Residents and civic activists are seeking clarity on future floor space index (FSI) regulations in Pune and the Khadki cantonment areas after the state government’s approval to merge them into the Pune Municipal Corporation limits. The cantonment boards have proposed a maximum FSI of 1 for the merged areas, which is an increase from the current 0.5 FSI in the cantonment regions but lower than the PMC’s range of 1.1 to 3. The boards stressed that any removal from their jurisdiction should not allow for unrestricted FSI. PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated in an interview with TOI, “FSI…

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Property Tax Suspension Continues in Pune Merger Areas

PUNE: Madhuri Misal, the Minister of Urban Development, clarified on Tuesday that there has been no coercive tax collection from residents in areas merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) territory, and this process has been temporarily halted. Misal was responding to queries from Khadakwasla MLA Bhimrao Tapkir, who expressed concerns about the proposed property tax structure. Tapkir noted that the new rates set by PMC significantly exceed the previous panchayat fees, leading to dissatisfaction among locals. Furthermore, some residents reported receiving inaccurate and inflated tax bills. Misal assured that there were no mandatory compliance measures from the administration; some…

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No separate body for merged areas, says Maharashtra minister

PUNE: On Thursday, State Industries Minister Uday Samant stated that there is “no immediate plan” to establish a separate municipal corporation for newly merged areas, as the state government is allocating funds for their development. Samant emphasized that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is providing sufficient funds for the development of these regions. The drafting of a development plan for the 23 merged areas is currently in progress, with approximately Rs 250 crore assigned for water supply projects and Rs 130 crore allocated for drainage works. PMC has also committed Rs 160 crore towards road development. “The government is dedicated…

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Pune Cuts Water Connections to Dilapidated Wadas

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun severing water connections to dilapidated wadas in the peth areas, where occupants are refusing to vacate despite multiple warnings about the unsafe conditions. The PMC has pinpointed 37 such properties for action and has requested police assistance to enforce mandatory evacuations. According to a senior PMC official, notifications have also been sent to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL) regarding the electricity connections to these wadas. Data from officials indicate that the PMC and the fire department register about 40-45 cases annually of wadas suffering damage or collapsing, particularly during the…

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Experts: Pune Airport’s Funnel Zone at Risk from Nearby Constructions

PUNE: Experts in civil aviation are urging increased action against rampant illegal construction activities near Lohegaon airport, warning that the safety of flight operations in the funnel zone may be at risk. Following the Pune Municipal Corporation’s recent crackdown on unauthorized buildings near the airport, experts believe that the response has been inadequate and delayed. An anonymous Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran commented that such extensive construction couldn’t occur without some level of collusion. “This is a significant issue that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. The collaboration between law enforcement, builders, politicians, and aviation officials could be contributing to…

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Pune Extends Property Tax Discount Deadline to July 7

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has extended the deadline for property tax payments at discounted rates to July 7, an extension from the original June 30 deadline. According to PMC officials, citizen facilitation centers (CFCs) are available for residents to pay taxes in person. “We have also launched an online payment facility for taxpayer convenience. Property owners are encouraged to pay their taxes on time to avoid last-minute congestion,” stated Avinash Sapkal, head of the property tax department. The PMC offers property owners a 5-10% discount if taxes are paid by May 31. This year, due to delays in…