10,000 illegal properties get demolition notices

Additional Municipal Commissioner Prakash Kadam said as per their estimate,there are 1.25 lakh illegal structures in the town. “We have come to this figure after going through the property assessment figures. Those who have not received completition certificates are presumed to have set up their structure without our permission,” he said.

Kadam said the property owners who are being issued notices include those who have set up structures on land reserved for public properties,those who have extended their structures without permissions,those who have set up houses or buildings without due permission,those who have set up hotels in basements,builders who have constructed.

The owners of illegal structures have been told to raze their structures in 50 days. “If the owners fail to comply with the orders,the PCMC will remove it and recover the cost from them,” officials said. However,there is hope for some of property owners as the PCMC today moved a proposal before the state government for “regularisation of structures by paying fines”.

“We forwarded a resolution passed at the civic general body meeting,recommending regularisation of some of the illegal structures by levying certain fine,” he said.

Kadam said constructions where residents have constructed an extra gallery could be regularised. “In case of villages such as Talawade which was merged with the PCMC,the structures are not as per the civic norms. But if we demolish them it would amount to gross injustice. Such structures could be regularised by paying certain fees,” he said. Officials said nearly 26,000 illegal structures on land reserved for public amenities will be demolished.

Independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar said the PCMC should also act against 23 corporators who have been found guilty of setting up illegal constructions. Advocating the Ulhasnagar model for Pimpri,Bhapkar said,“We will organise a demonstration at Pimpri chowk on Thursday,demanding regularisation of majority of the structures like it was done in Ulhasnagar a few years ago,” he said.