Pune civic body uses force to acquire 5,000 sq ft land on Baner Road

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday forcefully acquired 5,000 square feet of land on Baner Road for road widening. The police had to detain a group of agitators as the mob tried to obstruct the civic authorities.

Deputy commissioner of PMC and land department incharge, Hemant Nikam, told DNA that the land had been reserved for road widening and the acquisition had been pending for three years.

The civic authorities had tried to acquire the land a year ago, but the locals had agreed to remove the encroachments and vacate the land.

However, the PMC had to finally resort to force to acquire the land. Nikam said the PMC was determined to acquire the land reserved for public purpose, especially for roads. “Force would be used if
required,” he said.

Senior police inspector Mahadev Chavan said, “Around 15 policemen from the Chatuhshrungi station helped the PMC in carrying out land acquisition. During the course of the campaign, we detained around six people who were trying to stage a rasta roko. However, they were released soon afterwards. There were no serious untoward incidents.”