1,206 illegal structures can’t be razed for want of manpower and machinery
Officials are unable to instigate action without any machinery or manpower. Even though the Haveli office of Pune district administration has prepared a list of1, 206 illegal constructions beyond the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits, spread across 10 villages in the 10-km radius.
The district officials who have prepared the list after a detailed survey in the past three years have their hands tied with no directions from the state on giving them machinery, such as JCBs, to carry out the drive, at the same time the state government is yet to clear the action plan against illegal constructions. They moreover require manpower, including staff to carry out the drive with police protection.
A senior official from the district administration said, “After many illegal constructions sprung up in fringe areas, our team conducted a survey of buildings that got clearances directly from the gram panchayat rather than the District Collector. We issued notices to around 632 owners. However, our work stops there as we do not have the machinery to pull down these structures.’’
The administration in 2011 had carried out a drive at Katraj, Ambegaon areas and had pulled down 23 illegal structures, which were unoccupied. Machinery dues to the tune of Rs 7 lakh lack consent from the state government ,which had been used by administration.An official said “We are yet to get sanction from the state government to clear the dues.’’
In Kadamvakvasti, Vadki, Shivne, Narhe, Manjri Budruk, Mangdewadi, Bhilarewadi, Yevalewadi, Ambegaon, Khurd and Wagholi, the administration has identified illegal constructions. Post-2011, the administration had acknowledged 1,148 illegal structures and later on 58 structures were added to the list, taking the total to 1,206.
Some villages to be merged in municipal corporation limits, as suggested. State government’s action plan for illegal constructions, is yet to be cleared.
District Collector has to take action against illegal constructions, for 10 km beyond civic limits and the collector has to re-evaluate a total of 198 villages, which fall in this area. Amongst which Haveli taluka has 69 villages, Purandar has 12, Bhor has five, Khed 43, Shirur has two, Mulshi 33 and Maval 34 villages.
After sending those notices in 2011, the collectorate officials had razed 23 structures at Shani Nagar in Ambegaon area of Katraj hills.The list of other structures was surveyed by the administration, and almost 16 JCB machines were deployed to pull down these unoccupied structures. As per the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code 1966, according to the notice, they had to pull down the constructions and there was no move from the government to rehabilitate them as of now.
Source: The Indian Express
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