Cell to face 5,000 encroachments

PUNE, Aug 4: Faced with the massive task of removing over 5,000 encroachments and unauthorised constructions which have grown over the la...

PUNE, Aug 4: Faced with the massive task of removing over 5,000 encroachments and unauthorised constructions which have grown over the last 25 years, and also preventing any further unauthorised development, the Pimpri-Chinchwad New Township Development Authority PCNTDA has mooted a proposal to have a separate anti-encroachment cell with an independent police force. The proposal is soon to be sent to the State Government for approval, chief executive officer Prakash Joshi told Pune Newsline.

According to Joshi, the police force will comprise fifty constables including ten women constables, and will be headed by two police officers. The proposal has already been approved at the committee meeting recently. PCNTDA will also be recruiting about fifty workers for the anti-encroachment cell.

The PCNTDA has also recently issued a public warning against encroachments and unauthorised constructions in its 41 sectors. The notice warned people against entering into land deals in the areas of Bhosari, Moshi, Chikhli, Nigdi, Akurdi, Ravet, Chinchwad, Rahatni, Thergaon and Wakad. The PCNTDA, in some areas has completed the process of land acquisition, while in some areas it is still on.

Farmers and other persons holding power of attorney were indulging in illegal sale of land which has already been acquired by the PCNTDA. Such land deals were totally illegal and the purchasers would be at loss, the notice stated. It appealed people to verify the land records with the PCNTDA.

Joshi said that in case of unauthorised constructions, even if the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC had provided civic facilities and was collecting taxes from the persons responsible for the unauthorised constructions, they will not be regularised. Joshi said that PCNTDA has asked the PCMC, the MSEB, and even the telecom department not to provide any facilities to the unauthorised constructions in these areas.

Joshi hoped that the notice would stop people from purchasing lands or going ahead with any unauthorised constructions. A drive to demolish such constructions has already been started. The PCNTDA, at present, is completely dependent on the anti-encroachment department of the PCMC for carrying out the action.

Besides the anti-encroachment cell and an independent police force, the PCNTDA will also be employing a security agency to constantly check any unauthorised development, Joshi said. According to a survey conducted by the PCNTDA in May last year, there were a total of 5,615 unauthorised constructions used either for residential orcommercial use.

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Land to be acquired
The PCNTDA is yet to acquire about 360 hectares of land in the 41 sectors. Following are the details about area in hectares declared for acquisition and the actual possession figures in bracket by the PCNTDA.

Chinchwad 253 117
Thergaon 95 1.39
Rahatni 50 10.78
Ravet 101 15.98
Nigdi 207 191
Akurdi 158 158
Moshi 246 244
Bhosari 393 381
Wakad 82 72
Chikhli 324 324