95% citizens support Pimpri-Chinchwad bandh

Leaders of opposition parties in Pimpri-Chinchwad told media persons on Friday that nearly 95.75% of citizens have voted in favour of organisng a bandh in the twin township to protest against the demolition drive of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) against unauthorised constructions.

The opposition parties in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Thursday conducted a citizens’ poll about organising a ‘Pimpri-Chinchwad bandh’. The polling was held at nearly 100 centres in the twin township. Of the 60, 872 votes cast, 59,175  votes were in favour of bandh. A total of 1,697 votes were cast online.

The poll was conducted by Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Republican Party of India and Nagari Hakka Suraksha Samiti. The party leaders had announced that they would organise a Pimpri-Chinchwad bandh only if the citizens favour it.

The civic body has started a demolition drive of unauthorised constructions that have come up in the riverbed and on public reservations after March 2012. Shiv Sena group leader Shrirang Barne had earlier told media persons that if the civic administration  extends its drive, then, a bandh will be organised in protest.

The polling was held from 9 am to 6 pm on Thursday and counting took place on Friday. A total of 15 booths were set up in Pimpri, 33 in Chinchwad and 20 in Bhosari.

The ballot paper contained several objective questions such as whether PCMC’s ongoing demolition drive was right or wrong and whether a bandh be organised to protest against the demolition.

According to leaders of various parties, at present, the civic body was demolishing illegal commercial constructions and vacant buildings. However, they say they carried out the poll so that they can inform the government about the sentiments of citizens to prevent demolition of houses built before March 2012 in future.