Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner cracks the whip on illegal constructions

Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar has said that beat inspectors and other civic officials will be held responsible for any illegal construction activity in the area. Over the past few years, there have been innumerable illegal constructions in the twin township. Bombay High Court, which is hearing a PIL filed by a Chinchwad-based resident, has issued a number of directions to PCMC regarding demolition of illegal structures. Meanwhile, Chinchwad MLA Laxman Jagtap has asked PCMC to allot a Whatsapp number where citizens can complain about encroachment as well as unauthorised construction. In the past one month, PCMC’s anti-encroachment department had taken action against 43 illegal constructions in Dighi, Chikhli, Wakad and Triveninagar-Talawade road. Around 50,000-sqft area was demolished in Narayan housing society, Sangam housing society, Sant Gajanan Maharajnagar, Bharatmatanagar, Ashtavinayak housing society and Shivshakti housing society. Municipal commissioner Hardikar said illegal construction activities were going on and beat inspectors should take action against them. At a meeting held on Tuesday to discuss cleanliness issue, Jagtap asked PCMC to allot a Whatsapp number to report encroachment and illegal construction. The municipal website must also have the latest information about them, Jagtap said. PCMC had informed the HC that there are 66,000 illegal constructions. In January 2016, PCMC had issued a public notice regarding illegal construction, which stated that some persons and developers are carrying out unauthorised construction in the twin township. "Carrying out unauthorised construction is an offence according to Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Rules and Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Rules. Police complaints will be lodged against owners or developers carrying out such activities. Some persons and developers involved in illegal constructions have also sold these flats,’’ the notice stated. Flat buyers should ensure that the construction is legal to avoid any problem. The high court had directed PCMC to attend to all complaints, including those filed anonymously, and take immediate action.