Sena corporators hold morcha, say not scared of disqualification

Oppose civic administration drive against illegal structures, say the poor getting hit

In spite of being aware of the threat of disqualification from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for openly opposing action by the civic administration against illegal constructions in the city, Shiv Sena corporators led by legislator Mahadeo Babar on Thursday took out a street march in protest against the ongoing civic administration's demolition drive.

"The poor have constructed houses using their hard earned money. The civic administration has been pulling down their houses without considering the possibility of regularising them. We are not scared of losing our membership of PMC, in the interest of the public," said Sena leader Ashok Harnaval.

He alleged that the civic administration ignores construction on the nullahs by builders but do not think twice before initiating action against the houses of the poor.

Babar said the PMC should start legalising the houses of the poor or else face the consequences. He said that illegal PMC does not grant permission for houses on small plots and that's why the poor build them illegally. Corporators who participated in the morcha included Vijay Deshmukh, Prithviraj Sutar, Yogesh Mokate, Bharat Chaudhari and Kalpana Thorve.

Demolition drive stopped midway

The PMC administration on Thursday initiated action against three structures and nine sheds in its demolition drive against illegal construction, but stopped action midway after a crowd, in the absence of police protection to the squads, opposing the action created a tense situation. "In Dhayari, a three-storey building and a four-storey building were demolished. However, the action was stopped midway as a crowd gathered around the site and a tense situation was created as there was no police protection," said Sudhir Kadam, executive engineer. In another action, a two-storey building in Vadgaon Budhruk was also demolished and nine industrial sheds in Bibewadi were pulled down clearing a total of 30,000 sq ft.

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