PCMC ‘halts’ drive against illegal constructions

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to temporarily halt its ongoing anti-encroachment drive. Mayor Mohini Lande had made a request to civic chief Shrikar Pardeshi on Tuesday.

Pardeshi accepted the request and stopped the demolition drive temporarily. Lande told the media on Wednesday that three Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs will meet guardian minister Ajit Pawar in the next few days and after the meeting, the civic administration will decide whether to continue with the drive.

The PCMC recently demolished illegal structures in Kalewadi and decided to demolish illegal structures in Talwade and Chikhli. Political leaders met mayor and PCMC commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi.

Lande said, “Pawar had ordered PCMC to remove illegal structures on the riverbed and flood line but at present, PCMC conducting the demolition drive against all illegal constructions.”

Meanwhile, the opposition parties have adopted a tough posture on the issue. Shiv Sena group leader Shrirang Barne alleged that ruling NCP was behind the drive. Barne said NCP was playing a double game. On the one hand, Pawar had issued an order to demolish illegal constructions and on the other hand, the mayor had announced that NCP had stayed action against illegal structures.

Sena leaders alleged that NCP was ruling in PCMC since two decades but could not solve the issue of illegal constructions. They said Pawar should call an all-party meeting to resolve the issue permanently. Former independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar has sent a letter to mayor. The letter states that the common man was suffering due to the drive.