Shaky wadas keep Pune on the edge

The occupants do not cooperate and continue to stay in dangerous condition just to claim their right on the property, he said. “The city police too have been intimated about the state of the wadas which are in a crumbling state but citizens refuse to vacate them,” Shinde said.

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Every year, the PMC conducts the survey of all wadas and serves notice according to their condition. The notices are served for wadas on various grounds like they being “very dangerous,” need repair after vacating them, need repair without vacating them and for minor repairs of the structures.

PMC also recently issued a public notice in newspapers urging occupants to vacate the dilapidated structures that have been served notices while making it clear that the civic body would not be responsible if the citizens don’t act as per the notices.

“Only in case of very dangerous structures the PMC administration, with the help of police, gets the wada vacated and pulls down the dangerous parts,” Shinde said.

On Friday, a wada part in Ganesh Peth was pulled down as it was in dangerous condition. On Saturday, similar action was initiated in Nana Peth area.

There are a total of around 800 wadas spread in Kasba Peth, Rasta Peth, Sadashiv peth, Narayan Peth, Nana peth, Ganesh Peth, Raviwar Peth, Somwar peth, Mangalwar Peth, Budhwar Peth, Gurwar Peth, Shukarwar Peth and Shaniwar Peth.

Recently, the PMC, as per the directions of the state government, began issuing certificate of occupancy to the tenants so that they vacate it with their claim remaining intact.

“The certificates are issued, but a few occupants still have doubts on whether they would really able to stake claim on the basis of it. Therefore, the civic administration also has to engage in convincing them,” said a civic official.

The redevelopment of wadas normally gets delayed due to dispute between the owner and the tenants on their claim in the new property. To give it a push, the PMC has also proposed cluster development plan in the draft development plan of the old city so that wadas in adjoining plots come together to build a big structure.