With suggestions of road widening and gardens affecting 23 mosques in the city, civic officials call meeting with top cops and representatives of Muslim community to clear doubts and take in suggestions for suitably altering the plan
Using the new Development Plan (DP) as a weapon, a group was observed to be trying to instigate a particular community against others in the last two days. Taking stock, the PMC and police organised a meeting yesterday at Nehru Memorial hall, Camp, with representatives of the Muslim community to discuss and clear doubts regarding the reservations on 23 mosques in the new DP.
Clearing confusion: (Above) Commissioner of Police Gulab Pol, Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak, Mayor Vaishali Bankar and Deputy Mayor Deepak Mankar organised a meeting yesterday with representatives of Muslim community (inset) to clear doubts regarding the reservations on 23 mosques in the new DP. Pics/ Krunal Gosavi
ADVERTISEMENT
In the meeting, civic body representatives assured that suggestions and objections will be considered and a final decision on the DP will be taken without hurting sentiments of any community. According to the DP that has been put up for public scrutiny, 23 mosques might get affected due to road widening. Some area has also been reserved for gardens. Taking offence to this, the Waqf Board had filed their objections on May 14.
“Many people who had misinterpreted the DP were trying to send out wrong messages by distributing pamphlets and conducting meetings. It was an attempt to instigate people. We had arranged the meeting to clear doubts and concerns. Our intension is to maintain peace and so we had invited people on a common platform so that experts could clear all doubts,” said CP Gulab Pol.
Ayud Shaikh, advocate of Waqf board said, “The issue of reservation on 23 mosques is very serious. There are some un-intentional mistakes in the DP and we have expressed our objection in a secular manner. We have demanded to regularise reservations and are hoping that the decision will be taken after proper consensus.”
“The draft has been prepared on road to road basis. Pune is the third city in the country with a maximum accidental death rate. Considering the heavy traffic congestion, the city-planning officer has made provisions for road widening. However, there are three stages for finalisation of DP. Till now, we have received 16,000 suggestions and objections that will be considered by our specialised committee. By considering these objections and making changes, the DP will be presented in the General Body meeting and then sent to the state government. We are following proper process according to MRTP Act and are open to changes,” said Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak.
Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, joint commissioner of police, said, “We should take care to express objections in a democratic way. Many people are trying to take advantage by creating differences between communities. Such activities will not be tolerated and police will take serious action.” u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
