PCMC demolition drive sends out strong signals

Taking recourse to the Bombay High Court’s directives,the PCMC chief launched the demolition drive on June 28 from Chinchwad-Keshavnagar area. As many as 600 structures were initially on the hit-list of the civic administration. The list was then revised to 900,and further revised to 600 structures. Officials said it might get revised further as 60 individuals had already secured a stay from court.

The administration had first decided to demolish the earmarked structures at one go,but gauging the public mood decided to adopt a tactical approach. The drive was staggered,being undertaken at a gap of one,two or a few days.

In 17 days — when demolition was actually carried out — the PCMC administration has flattened as many as 87 structures across the town. Over 4 lakh sq feet construction has been demolished. According to builders,the cost of the demolished structures could be in the range of Rs 50 crore. Cases have been filed against over 170 people. The task was carried out by as many as 1,600 PCMC officials and employees,besides the police force,who were pelted with stones during the process. While city engineer M T Kamble led the demolition drives,Deputy Commissioner of Police Shahaji Umap and his team ensured security.

“Whatever we are doing are as per the Bombay High Court’s directives,” said Municipal Commissioner Dr Shrikar Pardeshi. Though MLAs have approached the government seeking direction to the PCMC to stop the drive,both Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have stood by the corporation.

In the 17 days of demolitions,as many as 34 structures that violated the floodline norms were demolished. Two of them were removed from land meant for civic amenities,while 14 structures included those transferred by builders illegally. There were many structures for which no permission had been sought. The drive witnessed violent reactions mainly in Dighi,Talwade and Wakad areas.

The biggest demolition was undertaken in Pimpri where an eight-storey building was in Vaibhagavnagar area. The PCMC also requisitioned the services of a “high rise poclain machine” which helped in bringing down tall buildings.

Appreciating the administration’s efforts in the face of widespread anger in the city,Sanjeevani Pandey,a resident of Chinchwad,said: “Some builders had set up apartments right on the riverbed. This clearly meant that they were not afraid of anybody. Residents too bought the flats believing that these would be regularised. But PCMC administration has done a terrific job by flattening the illegal structures,” she said,adding that this would surely act as a deterrent for builders who would in future think twice before constructing illegal structures. “At the same time,residents are will be extra cautious while purchasing flats,” Pandey said.

But activists Manav Kamble said PCMC should not demolish residential structures or extensions of houses if the residents had failed to take permission. “These can be regularised by levying fine,” he said. The PCMC should,he said,remove structures constructed on land reserved for civic amenities. “PCMC should give a thought to the fact why residents go for illegal structures? The reason is simple. If residents approach the PCMC seeking permission,officials take their own sweet time to give permission. Residents are made to run from pillar to post for getting different kinds of documents. This irks residents who then resort to illegal structures,” he said.

Voting on demolition drive today

THE Opposition parties in PCMC — the Shiv Sena,BJP and the RPI — will be conducting a “referendum” of sorts across Pimpri-Chinchwad on the issue of demolition of illegal structures. Residents have been urged to cast their votes for or against the current demolition drive undertaken by the PCMC. The voting would take place at 100 different places in Pimpri-Chinchwad,said Shiv Sena leader Shrirang Barne. Residents will be given a piece of paper where they have to tick mark the answer of their choice. Barne said workers of the three parties would make arrangements for the polling. Separate boxes will be kept where residents can cast their votes. The counting will take place on September 14. The results will be handed over to the PCMC administration,which would be urged to take people’s sentiments into consideration. “Whatever be the result,we would like the PCMC to go by it,” he said.