Red zone residents await development

The 17,000-odd residents of Chakrapani Vasahat, who pay property tax to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and elect their representatives to the PCMC, cannot even expect anything from the corporators beyond the basic amenities like water supply, drainage, garbage collection, roads and street lights.

The reason, the entire ward is under the shadow of ‘red zone’.

Chakrapani Vasahat is not the only ward. There are many such wards in Pimpri-Chinchwad limits. The surrounding area of Nashik-Pune-Alandi Road from east to west comes under ‘red zone’.

According to civic records, 50% area of Chikhali, Dighi, Wadmukhwadi and Moshi also comes under the ‘red zone’.

The corporators in the ‘red zone’ wards have little scope to perform. The residents are confused and cannot visualise any development.

A corporator from Chakrapani Vasahat, Vasant Londhe, said, “It is very difficult to project any development work in the ward, as it comes under the ‘red zone’. We cannot undertake any construction in this area. Yet, we are struggling to do some development work.”

A corporator from Talwade area, Suresh Mehtre, said, “Our priority will be to resolve the red zone issue. Several industries were set up in Talwade area, but the owners faced difficulties in getting bank loans and several other issues.”

The interesting point is that residents of wards that come under red zones elect their representatives with the hope of that they would be able to resolve this issue.