The Times of India              22.11.2010

PCMC sends notices to 3 builders

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has sent notices to three builders to stop work at their construction sites following allegations that nullahs have been diverted for their projects. Dilip Kudale, co-ordinator, engineering department, PCMC said, "The notices were sent to the builders on Monday."

Kudale said, "Sulabha Ubale, group leader of Shiv Sena corporators, PCMC had earlier sent a letter to the municipal commissioner pointing out that some builders have diverted nullahs while constructing their residential or commercial projects. As a result they have been sent notices to stop the ongoing work. The construction sites are located in Phugewadi, Chinchwad and Akurdi. They have been directed to submit their reply to the PCMC within a week."

He added, "The PCMC officials are also conducting an inspection of these sites and will be giving their report to the engineering department. A report will be prepared considering the inspection reports and the replies of the builders. This will be tabled before the municipal commissioner and he will take a decision on it."

The diversion or obstruction of flow of nullahs in the neighbouring Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits at Kothrud, Baner and other areas had caused massive flooding around a month back. This had highlighted the need to protect the natural flow of nullahs.

Ubale has again written a letter to Sharma on Friday demanding action to be taken against the builders who have diverted the flow of nullahs. She has pointed out that the constructions have been made by builders at seven places in the municipal limits by either diverting or filling up the nullahs or by putting slabs on it or by erecting pillars on it.

She has alleged that there are three cases in Chinchwad where the nullahs have been diverted or constructions made on them, two cases in Akurdi where nullah has been diverted and construction made on it, one case in Phugewadi where a commercial complex has been constructed by diverting the nullah and one housing project in Bhosari has been constructed by filling up a nullah.

Ubale has demanded to know the reason for the officials not stopping the constructions when the builders were constructing their projects. She has demanded an enquiry into the building permissions granted to these builders. She has also demanded that Sharma give directives to remove these constructions immediately. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.