Can't change reservation on plots, says civic body

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has refused to allot land for the proposed Koregaon Park police station.

It says the land in question is reserved for the municipal housing colony for its employees.

Sudhakar Telang, deputy commissioner, land acquisition and estate, wrote a letter to Umakant Dangat, the additional commissioner, PMC on February 25 for his approval. The letter, a copy of which is with MiD DAY, states the plots mentioned (plot numbers 341, 348 and 296 A) are reserved for a housing colony, dispensary, vegetable market and parking.

At a closed-door meeting between the PMC officials and the police on March 22 the police were verbally informed about the decision.

The meeting was chaired by the civic commissioner Mahesh Zagade, Dangat, Telang and DCP Kiran Shelar, on behalf of the police. According to a senior PMC official, "The police department was informed they have to approach the Home department, who will get in touch with the District Collector, who will then contact the PMC on this issue. And only after the change in the Development Plan (DP), will the PMC hand over the land to the police."

Shelar said, "The PMC has informed us that the proposed plot is reserved for other purposes but we are hopeful we might be able to build a police station. In fact, reserving space for police establishments should be included in the DP."