by Tejas

Pune, August 2, 2024:Following last Thursday's heavy rainfall that inundated much of Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune, both municipal corporations faced severe criticism for failing to take stringent action against unauthorised constructions along the riverbeds. In response to public outcry, notices have been issued to nine individuals, including the Deputy Commissioner of the Encroachment Removal Department and six zonal officers.

The municipal administration has also instructed encroachers along the riverbanks to remove their illegal structures. Last week’s downpour caused extensive flooding of establishments along the rivers in Pimpri Chinchwad, leading the PCMC to relocate nearly five thousand residents to safer areas. This event brought to light the persistent issue of illegal encroachments and inadequate water drainage in the industrial city.

Many residents blamed the municipal corporation for its reluctance to act against those responsible for these encroachments. In response, PCMC Additional Commissioner Pradeep Jambhale issued notices to nine officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of the Encroachment Removal Department, six field officers, and two beat inspectors.

Currently, orders have been issued for the removal of illegal constructions. However, a decision on whether to carry out these actions immediately or wait until after the monsoon will be made following discussions with the Commissioner. The city has eight regional offices of the Municipal Corporation, and unauthorised constructions and temporary structures are prevalent in all eight zonal office areas.

To address these issues more effectively, the Municipal Corporation is developing a separate application to provide comprehensive information on encroachments. This app will track which areas have been encroached upon, how many notices have been issued to offenders, and what actions have been taken against them.