Under threat,Pardeshi gets support from staff,ex-chief

“We will not slow down. The demolition drive will continue. Receiving threat to life is part of our profession,” he said. Pardeshi has been provided with additional police security after his office received a letter threatening him of dire consequence if he went ahead with the demolition drive.

The civic chief had announced that he would demolish unauthorised structures that had come up after March 31,2012 and would wait for the government decision on illegal structures that sprang up before March 31,2012.

Stating that he had been provided with one carbine-wielding policeman 24 X 7,Pardeshi said he received a letter on Friday afternoon which said action against the illegal constructions in PCMC area will not be tolerated. “The letter is anonymous and person who has written the letter has also given a threat to my life. After this we had a meeting with the deputy commissioner of police (Zone III). They have increased the security at the PCMC office and also my personal security.”

Dilip Band,who was PCMC commissioner for five years said “Dr Shrikar Pardeshi will not buckle down to any pressure.

I am sure he would go ahead with the drive,” he said. Band said during his tenure he had received phone calls,letters and also face to face threats,but he did not care. “While doing my task I did not bother about any threats to my life. I did what I wanted to. All for the town’s sake.” Band said he had never taken any security. “Dr Pardeshi should go ahead with what he is doing. He is doing a good job and should continue. Pimpri-Chinchwad needs such strong officers,” he said.

Band had earned the name ‘demolition man.’ He had razed over 2,000 structures despite severe opposition from citizens,political leaders and MLAs during his tenure. His demolition drives led to wide roads in Pimpri-Chinchwad,primarily the Pune-Mumbai highway and the Nashik highway where today motorists can drive without getting stuck in traffic jams.

Meanwhile,nearly 8,000 PCMC employees on Saturday protested against the threat issued to their boss. They held a meeting at PCMC headquarters on Saturday afternoon and sought action against the person behind the threat.

The employees wore black arm bands to register their protest. Additional Municipal Commissioner Amrut Sawant said the officers and employees were hurt by the threat issued to an ‘officer who was carrying out his duties in the interest of the town.’