Urban News

This is the second time in a month that the civic administration finds itself in an embarsassing situation. Earlier, the construction of four floors at the 12-floor Midori Towers in Pimple Nikah was found to be illegal.

Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said he would seek information from his officers about the residential project on a nine-acre plot in Wadmukhwadi, which was merged with the PCMC in 1997. “I have received a complaint. The project was sanctioned before I took charge as commissioner. I will have to verify the details.”

The civic administration had converted the status of the land, reserved for “residential purposes” in the regional plan of Wadmukhwadi, into industrial when it sent the draft DP for approval four years ago. “It has now given permission for a residential building, violating norms. The administration will have to explain how the land suddenly became residential,” said Shiv Sena corporator Seema Savle, who has written to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan seeking a probe.

“The building permission department has permitted construction of 344 flats and several row of houses despite objections raised by its own town planning department.”

The deputy director of town planning had, in a letter dated 15 February, 2008, to the building permission department, said it would not be appropriate to change the status of the land till the draft DP was approved. “The builder had first sought permission for a residential building and IT Park. Later for residential complex, which was promptly given by the PCMC,” said Shiv Sena leader Sarang Kamthekar. PCMC deputy city engineer Vasant Kachi said the land was reserved for industrial purposes. “We have taken a bank guarantee of Rs 72 lakh and 10 per cent land from the builder as per norms.” He said the allegations levelled against the department were baseless as the deal was struck at the commissioner’s level.