The land records department will buy a life insurance policy from the
government-owned New India Assurance Company to cover 163 employees at
an annual premium of Rs 1.61 lakh for an amount ranging from Rs 3 lakh
to Rs 10 lakh depending on the employee’s class which will benefit the
kin.

Speaking to TOI, Subhash Machare, chief of social welfare department, PCMC
said, “The civic body has taken the insurance policy for the employees
of the Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo and the fire brigade. The civic body now
will provide insurance cover to the 163 employees who will participate
in its anti-encroachment drives. These include 25 officers belonging to
Class I and II, 93 employees belonging to Class III and 14 belonging to
Class IV. The medical bills of the injured employees will also be paid
through the insurance policy.”

Political parties in Pimpri
Chinchwad, including the ruling NCP, are opposed to the
anti-encroachment drive against unauthorised constructions and want them
regularized. Demolition drives have been marred by stones being pelted
at the civic staff and policemen.

The civic administration has
drawn up a proposal which will come up for approval at the standing
committee meeting on Tuesday. The proposal states that the civic body
has given the responsibility of demolishing the unauthorized
constructions in the city to the zonal officers, executive engineers and
employees of the four zonal offices.

There is resentment among
the citizens about the drive due to which it is likely to face stiff
opposition and the possibility of the staff participating in the drive
getting injured cannot be ruled out, it added.