Over 200 officers keep watch on illegal constructions

Negligent officials face 3-month jail term

After ignoring them for years, Pune seems to have woken up to the scourge of illegal constructions. Whether it is on the congested PMC areas, the rapidly expanding PCMC turf or the upscale Pradhikaran area, unauthorised structures are on the hit-list of civic officials.

This is best exemplified by appointment of 123 officers by the PMC, 104 officers by PCMC and 10 officers by PNCTDA about three months ago. The officers will keep a watch on unauthorised structures across the city, issue notices to them and initiate the process of razing them. Such speedy action like this was not heard of in the past in Pune, say civic activists.

Civic officials said the appointment of desginated officers has worked to good effect. The demolitions, said additional city engineer Vivek Kharadwarkar, happening currently in the city are the result of feedback provided by these officers.

PMC has 1,200 unauthorised structures on its radar. Of these, 700 have been razed and 500 are facing the hammer. Both PCMC and PNCTDA have a prepared list of 500 structures that will be demolished in the next month or so. Both have already razed 500 structures.

"PMC was the first civic body to appoint such officers. Because of this move, the intensity of demolitions has gone up and so has the scale of operation," said Kharwadkar. What is signifciant is negligent officers face serious action themselves. This ranges from penalties to even imprisonment for up to three months. "There is a kind of Domacles' sword hanging over the heads of the officials assigned to keep a watch on illegal structures," said PCMC commissioner Dr Shrikar Pardeshi.

"However, this will happen after we have investigated whether the concerned official has been negligent or not," Pardeshi said.

... contd.

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