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.