Helpless Mahesh Zagade can’t fight encroachments in Pune

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) seems to have succumbed to pressure from different quarters in taking action against illegal constructions in the city.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade on Tuesday expressed helplessness on the issue while responding to questions from some corporators in the general body meeting.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Bhosale and Shiv Sena leader Sham Deshpande raised the issue and enquired about the progress of the civic body’s anti-encroachment drive.

Zagade claimed that whenever the civic administration takes action against encroachments, a lot of pressure comes from different quarters to stop the demolition drive.

“I can’t explain how difficult it is to carry out the anti-encroachment drive,” Zagade told the general body, admitting that there are a large number of illegal
constructions in the city.

The civic administration had started a demolition drive after heavy rains inundated several parts of the city. About seven people were killed in house collapse incidents. People faced a lot of inconvenience as streets were water logged and drains got choked due to illegal
constructions.

According to Zagade, there are three types of illegal constructions in the city: where developers have done additional constructions assuming that they would get extra floor space index (FSI) or transfer of development rights (TDR); completely illegal constructions which need to be demolished immediately; and where the PMC has given permission for illegal constructions.

The civic chief wondered how he can take action against so many officials when they themselves were responsible for approving such a large number of illegal constructions. He pointed out that the PMC is already facing staff crunch while the city is growing rapidly.

Zagade said the civic body has sent a proposal to the state government seeking approval for an additional police station which will deal with only encroachments and illegal constructions. He said the state home department is likely to clear the
proposal soon.