Maharashtra Herald, Pune - March, 2006

The proposed project can achieve two objectives – tackles the pollution of water supplied to farmers for irrigation and make land available for development.

The proposal would be a boon to the city. There is no doubt that the city needs land considering its rapid expansion in the recent past. It would definitely help in development of the city once the canal land is made available for the tunnel.

But, a lot would depend on how the State decides to use the land. The best option would be making use of the land made available for civic amenities.

It can be developed on built-on-transfer (BOT) basis or through public-private participation. The land should be used in various ways as per its location. However, it should be made sure that land is used in pro-active manner. It would help in improving roads. The existing roads are getting congested with the increase in traffic.

While welcoming the surplus land, it should be ensured that it is used for developing gardens or creating more green cover in the city limits.

The proposed project can achieve two objectives simultaneously, of tackling the problem of polluted of polluted water being supplied to the farmers for irrigation of their fields and secondly, making available the precious land for the city’s development.

The State would either go for construction of roads or commercial exploitation of the free land, deteriorating the cities environment further

The proposal would definitely not prove to be a boon for the city. There must be a hidden agenda behind those who have floated the proposal. Those governing the State are least concerned about the supply of water to farmers through the canal. They have never bothered to clean up the river, which has been lying polluted for years now. These State’s reasoning on meeting demands of the Irrigation Department is just a way to justify their proposal so that it can be approved.

The land, likely to be freed due to the proposed plan, should definitely be used for infrastructure purpose. They would either go for construction of road or commercial exploitation, deteriorating the city’s environment further. The land, which is presently used as water body, would be exploited.

The real reason behind the proposal and the hidden agenda would only be clear after some time. Those concerned about the environment would definitely oppose it.

In fact, citizens should come together and oppose and plan that would harm the city’s environment due to the proposed project. The city’s environment is already in a bad condition due to the unplanned infrastructure.