The Indian Express 09.04.2013
After Thane building collapse, civic body to intensify drive against illegal constructions
Under criticism for slowing down action against illegal constructions
in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration is all
set to intensify its demolition drive after the building collapse in
Thane brought into focus negligence on part of the civic staff.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Jagtap said that
action against illegal constructions is on but staff crunch might have
affected the drive.
“We have taken action against illegal constructions on Karve Road and Yerawada area,” said Jagtap.
The civic administration has a tough task ahead as it has to
clear around 19 lakh sq metre area with illegal constructions and
encroachments. The civic administration had intensified its demolition
drive after an illegal building collapsed in Taljai area last year,
killing 11 people.
When pointed out that illegal constructions were resurfacing
again on plots where civic administration had initiated action and that
there was no action from PMC, executive engineer Rajendra Raut said the
civic administration will initiate legal action against those rebuilding
the demolished structures.
In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak, Congress
corporator Milind Kachi has demanded action against civic staff for
neglecting their duty and not initiating action against illegal
constructions despite bringing it into their notice.
“I had personally pointed out illegal structures coming up in my
electoral ward but there has been no action from the civic
administration. Thus, the civic staff should be prosecuted as per the
new rule,” he said.
Congress leader Ulhas Bagul has urged Chief Minister Prithviraj
Chavan to direct the civic administration to make builders put up
sanctioned building construction plan at the sites so that citizens can
identify legal constructions.