PCMC's burial land plan triggers row

BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap led a protest march and public meeting on June 27, opposing the land reservation for burial purposes in Old Sangavi

- Abhijit Sherekar

The proposed Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) draft Development Plan (DP) has triggered a controversy in Old Sangavi over the reservation of land for cremation and burial grounds. The draft, released on May 14, earmarks land for religious communities including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians across Old Sangavi, Dapodi, Bopodi, Pimple Gurav, and Pimple Saudagar, raising objections from certain quarters.

Covering 173.24 sq km, the DP projects a population growth to 42.45 lakh by 2031 and 61 lakh by 2041. As per the draft, land is allocated for community-specific cremation and burial grounds. However, BJP MLA from Chinchwad, Shankar Jagtap, led a protest march and public meeting on June 27 near Balaji Lawns in Dhore Nagar, opposing the land reservation for burial purposes in Old Sangavi.