On Wednesday, the Pune state government said that the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is appointed to draft a development plan for 23 Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) merged villages. PMRDA will work as a special planning authority for this development plan, the government said. The BJP-run Pune Municipal Corporation has criticised the government's decision. The state government's decision seems to be politically motivated, Mayor Muralidhar Mohol said. PMC would explore the legal options for getting its right for drafting the development plan for 23 villages, he added. Once the villages are merged with PMC, the decision making power for the development plan goes to the Pune civic body. Mayor said that the government's plan to move the PMC's power to PMRDA is illegal. On Thursday, the civic body convened a special civic body meeting to discuss the development plan. The government notified that the order had been issued under sections 40(1) and 40(1)(D) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. According to the orders, the land developed in these villages were based upon land availability with no planned alignments. Further, the width of the roads was not as per the requirements, with no public amenities being developed. The area of the 23 villages is undeveloped in an unplanned and uncontrolled manner. PMC leader, Ganesh Bidkar, said that the government's statement was incorrect, as the 23 villages were developed. If PMRDA is already working on the development plan, PMC should get the details. PMC will use it for drafting the development plan, and the document can be prepared jointly by PMC and PMRDA. But forming a separate authority and excluding PMC from the development plan is wrong. Congress leader in the PMC, Ulhas Bagul, said that PMRDA had prepared the development plan for 23 villages. A lot of money and time has been invested in finalising the document. Instead of starting it over again, PMC should carry forward the PMRDA's plan. The urban planning body is in favour of continuing with the plan initiated by the PMRDA. Ramchandra Gohad, a senior urban planner, said that PMC and PMRDA should join hands and complete the development plan for the 23 merged villages. It will save money, time, and resources. Image Source Also read: Pune Municipal Corporation joins 23 merged villages with ward offices Also read: Maha govt to issue order on merger of 23 villages with Pune civic body