India, July 5 -- The nearly decade-old proposal to merge Hinjewadi and nearby villages into the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has reignited the controversy around it and brought the focus back on the sharp divide between local villagers and the resident IT workforce on the matter. While many native residents of Hinjewadi, Maan, and other adjoining villages oppose the merger, IT professionals and new residents strongly back it, in the hope of improved infrastructure and unified governance.

The merger proposal, which has been pending with the state government since 2015, includes the inclusion of seven villages - Hinjewadi, Maan, Marunji, Gahunje, Jambhe, Nere and Sangavade - under PCMC. Though the corporation passed the re...