Though NCP's Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati Supriya Sule is keen to take up the issue of the implementation of the pending Development Plan of Pune with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the process may not be that easy.

With about 70,000 objections already to the first unit — Baner-Balewadi DP and another nine units are to go for suggestions and recommendations -- Sule cannot include this as her poll agenda.

At present, campaigning in Pune and Baramati, Sule is willing to undertake a study on delay of implementation before presenting the case to the CM. Sources close to her said that she is interested in undertaking a detailed study with the help of Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar.

However, Sule, who will take up the issue next month, will have to address a whole lot of technical issues. Activists Satish Khot and Aneeta Benninger feel that the process is not all that easy. "A decision cannot be taken in such a short span of time. This is just a political campaign,''said Benninger.

Interestingly, the DP, which invited suggestions and objections in 2002, was passed only in 2005 and even after that the government has only cleared the Baner-Balewadi unit of the 10 units — again for which there are over 70,000 objections. "This is not a small number,'' points out Benninger. With elections in the coming months, there is likely to be more delay over the remaining nine units, she adds.

The first statutory development plan was prepared in 1966. The first revision process of this DP was started in 1982 and the revised DP was sanctioned in 1987. The validity of this plan was for 20 years, i.e., up to 2007. The DP enabled planning for orderly development of a town, zoning of lands for different purposes, reservation of private lands for public purposes, frame work of rules and bye-laws for building control, repair and development of old and dilapidated areas, protection of the environment, conservation of heritage buildings and creation of new infrastructure for future growth.