The Indian Express             24.09.2013

PCMC acts tough: 400 buildings razed, 2,400 FIRs filed

In contrast to Mahesh Pathak-led PMC, which appears to have slowed
down its drive against illegal construction, the Shrikar Pardeshi-led
PCMC continues to act tough. In the last one year, it has razed 400
illegal structures across the industrial town. The civic body has also
filed FIRs against a 2,400 individuals who had set up the structures.
Civic officials said this is the highest number of FIRs in connection
with illegal structures from any civic body in the state.

PCMC Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said the drive has picked up.
“If you compare the figures on structures of demolished during early
months of the drive and later months, you will notice the difference.
The drive has not slowed down in any way,” he said.

He said the drive happens whenever the police bandobast is
available. “If the police cover is not there, the drive does not take
place. For example, during certain occasions like Ganesh festival, the
entire force is preoccupied with security arrangements. We do not get
police cover and so the drive does not take place,” he said. Civic
officials said PCMC avoids acting against illegal structures during
festivities.

Even since PCMC under his leadership has acted against illegal
structures, Pardeshi has received seven threats to his life. Also the
entire political class has agitated against his drive. Three MLAs and
two MPs made an all-out attempt to get the government to stop the drive.

Three MLAs, Laxman Jagtap, Vilas Lande and Anna Bansode, all from
NCP, staged protests in the state Assembly drawing media attention.
“But even this failed to impress the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan
who has stood by the PCMC chief,” civic officials said.

Though his writ runs wide and deep in PCMC, Deputy Chief Minister
Ajit Pawar has not been able to stop Pardeshi administration’s drive.
The PCMC chief is banking on the high court directive that ordered the
civic body act against illegal constructions.

“Whatever we are doing is as per the high court directive. Till the
state government announces a policy decision, we will go ahead with the
demolitions,” he said. Civic activist D G Baliga said the PCMC drive has
paid rich dividends.

“Today citizens and builders are wary of setting up illegal
constructions. You will not find one illegal construction coming up in
Pimpri-Chinchwad. Even officials are wary as they know the civic chief
will file FIR against them as per the provision in the law,” he said.