The notification said it was felt necessary to have a proper planned development of areas within 10 km distance from the boundaries of both the PMC and PCMC. “We have asked the irrigation department to conduct a survey of all natural streams and nullahs in these areas and give us a report by March. We will decide on our action later,” Dalvi said.

The collector’s order comes against the backdrop of deputy chief minister and guardian minister Ajit Pawar directing the PMC and irrigation department to prepare a detailed report on encroachments on nullahs in the city, wherein he had ordered immediate demolition of illegal constructions preventing the natural flow of water. He had asked municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade and irrigation head Avinash Surve to prepare a report in three months.

Dalvi said the survey would be carried out in the rural areas. “With the DC rules to be extended to these areas as well, any encroachments on natural streams and nullahs should be curtailed. We will take stringent action against any illegal construction.”

He had earlier formed a cell under the deputy collector, three town planners and six assistant town planners to monitor constructions in the rural parts of the district. The first drive was conducted in Ambegaon taluka, where the administration had identified 99,000 sq m of unauthorised construction and identified multiple use of land. 

Meanwhile, an independent survey under the aegis of Nagrik Chetana Manch and Surajya Samiti is on under the leadership of Justice PB Sawant. Vijay Kumbhar, associated with the Samiti, said they had received scores of complaints.

“We have restricted our survey to the civic limits; we will look into illegal constructions, encroachments, blocking of streams and issues pertaining to building permission.” Kumbhar said only such an inquiry could assess the extent of encroachments on natural streams. The commission appointed by the NGO will also address illegal constructions and those buildings occupied without completion certificates.