Pune: The joy of riverside life ends in rubble, when PCMC demolishes 36 villas near the Indrayani River, the owners face a fine of Rs 5 crore

On Saturday, PIMPRI CHINCHWAD Municipal Corporation (PCMC) demolished 36 bungalows built under the “River Villa” project in Chikhali. The buildings cover 1.8 acres and are located within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River. The action follows the order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in July 2024, which also directed the PCMC to recover Rs 5 crore from the owner as environmental damage compensation (EDC).

PCMC demolition follows multiple court orders

Bungalows have been built over the past three to four years. The owner purchased the plot between May 2021 and December 2021. Urban activist and attorney Tanaji Gambhire filed a petition to NGT in 2020, posing a challenge on the grounds of the environment. NGT ruled against the owner.
Last August, the Supreme Court rejected the owner’s appeal, saying NGT did not make any mistakes. The Supreme Court rejected the developer’s further appeal for the EDC issue on May 5 this year. On Friday, the owners filed a written petition in the Mumbai High Court seeking a re-division of the flood line and evacuation and demolition. The court rejected temporary relief and a hearing was scheduled to be held on June 9.

Serious policeman present, dismantling video documents

The PCMC Rescue Service carried out the demolition earlier on Saturday and was carried out through 16 excavators and police deployments. Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the civic body began public announcements on May 13 and disconnected water and power from the bungalow. “We began public announcements in the area on May 13, requiring residents to evacuate the site. Their water and electricity connections have been disconnected,” he said.

Most residents have removed their property before the action. “We recorded videos of each house where the document was demolished,” Singh added, adding that residents were given enough legal opportunities. “Even on Friday, their lawyers sought lawsuits from the High Court, but the court refused to give interim relief.”

Residents still own the land, but construction is not allowed

A senior citizen official said that despite 29 owners relocating the Supreme Court, NGT’s July 2024 order applies to all illegal buildings in the Blue Flood Line area. “Following this directive, the citizen agency has identified and razed the ground, with a total of 36 such structures razed the ground. The PCMC is now working to restore the fine of Rs 5 crore. “We will execute the directive of NGT and will recover the fine from the owner as soon as possible,” Singh said. ”