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Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pune: Joy of riverfront living ends in rubble as PCMC demolishes 36 villas near Indrayani river, owners face Rs 5 crore penalty
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Saturday demolished 36 bungalows built under the 'River Villa' project in Chikhali. The structures, spread over 1.8 acres, were located within the blue flood line of the Indrayani river. The action followed a July 2024 order by the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ), which also directed PCMC to recover Rs 5 crore from the owners as environmental damage compensation (EDC). PCMC Demolition followed multiple court orders The bungalows were constructed over the past three to four years. Owners had purchased the plots between May and December 2021. City activist and lawyer Tanaji Gambhire filed a petition with the NGT in 2020, challenging the project on environmental grounds. The NGT ruled against the owners. In August last year, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from the owners, stating that the NGT had committed no error. A further plea by the developer on the EDC issue was also dismissed by the apex court on May 5 this year. On Friday, the owners filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, seeking re-demarcation of the flood line and a stay on demolition. The court refused interim relief and scheduled a hearing for June 9. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Heavy police presence, demolition with video documentation The PCMC anti-encroachment department carried out the demolition early Saturday with 16 excavators and police deployment. Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the civic body began public announcements on May 13 and disconnected water and power supply to the bungalows. "We began making public announcements in the area on May 13, asking residents to vacate the premises. Their water and electricity connections had been disconnected," he said. Most residents had removed their belongings before the action. Singh added, "We recorded videos of every house demolished for documentation." He also stated that residents were given enough legal opportunity. 'Even on Friday, their lawyers approached the high court seeking a stay on the action, but the court declined to grant interim relief.' Live Events Residents still own plots, but no construction allowed A senior civic official said that while 29 owners had moved the Supreme Court, the NGT's July 2024 order applied to all illegal constructions in the blue flood line area. "Following this directive, the civic body identified and razed a total of 36 such structures," the official said. Though ownership of the land remains with the property holders, further construction on the plots is banned. PCMC is now working on recovering the ₹5 crore penalty. 'We will implement the NGT's directive, and the penalty will be recovered from the owners as soon as possible,' Singh said, urging prospective buyers to verify legal documents before purchasing any property.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
36 unauthorised bungalows razed along Indrayani river bank
In a long-anticipated and high-impact anti-encroachment drive, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Saturday demolished 36 illegal bungalows from the River Villa project, located within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River in Chikhali. The entire operation was completed in under ten hours. Acting on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), officials and personnel from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), along with a heavy police force, reached the River Villa project in Chikhali village in the morning. The demolition drive, which began around 6 am under heavy police protection, lasted for around 5 pm when all the riverside structures were brought down using a large number of earthmovers. According to officials, the civic body razed the river-facing bungalows spread across 63,970 sq ft (7,245 sq metres) in Survey No. 90. A total of 18 excavators and three earthmovers were deployed for the operation. Despite opposition from local BJP leaders, PCMC officials went ahead with the action, citing directives from the Supreme Court. Water and electricity connections to the bungalows were disconnected a day before the drive. While some residents began packing and shifting belongings on Friday, others remained on site until the morning of the action. Municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh supervised the demolition, with senior PCMC officials, including additional commissioner Pradeep Jambhale-Patil, city engineer Makarand Nikam, and deputy commissioners Manoj Lonkar and Rajesh Aghale present at the site. Police presence The Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate ensured tight security, with the police team led by deputy commissioners Dr Shivaji Pawar and Bapusaheb Bangar, assistant commissioner Anil Koli, and senior inspector Vitthal Salunkhe. The large-scale operation involved a formidable task force: 7 Executive Engineers, 22 Deputy Engineers, 22 Junior Engineers, 22 Beat Inspectors, 168 Maharashtra Security Force personnel, over 400 police officials, and 120 labourers. The civic body deployed 15 Poklane machines, 3 earthmovers, 2 fire engines, and 4 ambulances to support the operation. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Singh said, 'The civic body had previously warned citizens to check the development plan (DP) and ensure approvals before investing. The DP is available online. Approved plots are more expensive, but people often take risks to save money.' 'It's not as though all buyers were unaware. Many knew the plots were unauthorised but believed someone could 'manage' the issue. Ultimately, it's the citizens' responsibility to verify all permissions before investing,' he added. Mahesh Patil, one of the affected homeowners, said he had invested over ₹1.25 crore in building his bungalow. 'We have no savings left. We're a family of 14 and now have nowhere to go. I'm under heavy debt with a monthly EMI of ₹68,000,' he said. Petition filed The case stems from a petition filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by citizens opposing construction within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River. On July 1, 2024, the tribunal directed PCMC to take strict action and gave residents six months to respond. A joint committee also imposed ₹5 crore as External Development Charges (EDC) to be recovered from the developers and owners, the civic body said in a statement. Following legal proceedings, the matter reached the Supreme Court, which dismissed a civil appeal on May 5, 2025, clearing the way for demolitions. A last-minute attempt by the bungalow owners to obtain an interim stay from the Bombay High Court on Friday also failed. Lawyers representing the affected residents argued that while land transactions were legally executed, the issue was with the status of the construction. Advocates Yogendra Kumar and Arun Longani, who are representing homeowners, said the Bombay High Court had allowed an urgent hearing, but did not grant interim relief. 'Our writ petition is pending and will be heard on June 9,' they said. Undertakings According to them, residents had submitted undertakings to PCMC stating they would either demolish the structures themselves or vacate and hand over possession if a fresh flood line survey confirmed the illegality. The River Villa bungalows—primarily owned by middle-class families—were built over two decades, starting in the late 1990s and continuing until 2020. Earlier, on July 1, 2024, the NGT had directed PCMC to demolish 29 bungalows and other illegal structures within six months and recover ₹5 crore as environmental compensation. Though the Supreme Court initially stayed the NGT order, it later upheld it in full. Meanwhile, many residents claim they were misled by the developer, who had assured them that the plots fell in a residential zone. 'We were given water and electricity connections by the corporation. If the construction was illegal, why didn't they act earlier? We've put our life savings into these homes,' said one of the affected owners.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
Pimpri Chinchwad civic body demolishes 36 illegal bungalows built within Indrayani river flood line in Chikhali
1 2 3 Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on Saturday pulled down 36 unauthorised bungalows constructed under the 'River Villa' project spread over 1.8 acre within the blue flood line of the Indrayani river in Chikhali . The action was taken in compliance with the National Green Tribunal 's (NGT) July 1, 2024, order that directed the civic body to demolish the structures and recover Rs5 crore from the owners in environmental damage compensation (EDC). City activist and lawyer Tanaji Gambhire had in 2020 filed a petition in the tribunal against the bungalows built in violation of environmental norms. Last Aug, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the owners challenging the NGT order and said that the green tribunal did not commit any error in law or fact. Later, the developer approached the apex court on the issue of EDC, and the court ordered a status quo until this plea was decided. However, on May 5, the SC dismissed the developer's plea. The owners exhausted their last attempt to save their homes on Friday after they moved Bombay high court, but it refused to grant an interim stay on the proposed PCMC exercise. Amid heavy police presence, the civic anti-encroachment department began the demolition around 7am on Saturday with 16 excavators. Most of the bungalows were two- and three-storey residential structures, built over the past three to four years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 빠진 치아 있다면? 1개도 10개도 개당 33만원에 임플란트 해드려요 플란치과 더 알아보기 Undo The owners purchased the plots in May and Dec 2021 through sale deeds from the developer and later constructed the structures. PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh told TOI that residents were informed in advance of the scheduled action. "We began making public announcements in the area on May 13, asking residents to vacate the premises. Their water and electricity connections had been disconnected." Most of the residents had removed their movable items, and there was no resistance from owners, he said. "We recorded videos of every house demolished for documentation." Singh further said that the owners were provided with an opportunity to avail all the legal remedies. "Even on Friday, their lawyers approached the high court seeking a stay on the action, but the court declined to grant interim relief." On Friday, the lawyers appearing for the bungalow owners sought an urgent hearing of a writ petition requesting a re-demarcation of the flood line along the Indrayani river and a directive restraining PCMC from taking coercive action until the re-survey was completed. The court refused to pass any interim order and scheduled the matter for a hearing on June 9. A senior civic official said while 29 bungalow owners approached the Supreme Court last year, the NGT in its July 1 order last year clearly directed that all illegal structures within the blue flood line in the area — not just the 29 — be pulled down. "Following this directive, the civic body identified and razed a total of 36 such structures." According to civic officials, the plots are still owned by the property holders, but no construction will be permitted on them. Commissioner Singh said the civic body was currently working on a mechanism to recover the Rs5 crore EDC from the owners. "We will implement the NGT's directive, and the penalty will be recovered from the owners as soon as possible," he said, urging people to verify all the documents and status of properties before making a purchase.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dream homes turn to rubble in Chikhali as PCMC demolishes structures in blue flood line
Representative Image PUNE: The civic action against the 36 illegal bungalow structures at the 'River Villa' project, located in the blue flood line area of Chikhali in Pimpri Chinchwad on Saturday, left many residents homeless. The owners of the demolished structures claimed they were cheated by the developer, who sold the plots as being in a 'residential zone'. They also alleged that PCMC staff took bribe money from them to avoid initiating action against their illegal structures. Gyanprasad Yadav , a 60-year-old native of Uttar Pradesh who moved to Pimpri Chinchwad two decades ago, was in tears as he watched Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation officials demolish his house. Earlier this year, his furniture shop in Kudalwadi was among over 4,000 illegal establishments demolished by PCMC. "I lost my business a few months ago, and now I have lost my home too," Yadav said, adding that he invested around Rs 35 lakh—his entire life's savings—into building the house. Several residents affected by the PCMC action claimed they were not prepared for such a large-scale demolition against the residential structures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At What Age Can You Retire With £250,000? Fisher Investments UK Learn More Undo Shashikant Chaudhary, 43, said he had no option but to send his family to stay with relatives as their only home in the city was demolished. "I sold two acres of farmland to build my dream home. I invested nearly Rs 70 lakh, all my savings, into building the home with the best infrastructure and interiors. Now, everything has been reduced to rubble," he said. Rehbar Shaikh , who recently moved into his new home after spending more than 20 years in rented accommodation, said his joy was short-lived as the house was demolished just days after he moved in. Another affected resident, Shailesh Vispute , said he is still repaying a monthly EMI of Rs 44,000 on a home loan. "I used all my savings to build this house. The developer told us the plots were in a residential zone. We were completely misled," he said. His father, Mahendra Vispute , alleged that civic officials promised no action against their homes in exchange for bribes. "We paid money to these civic officials to save our houses from PCMC's action. For a one-storey structure, people paid Rs 50,000, while for a two-storey building, we paid Rs 1 lakh each but were betrayed later. We were given water and electricity connections and have regularly paid property tax for the past four years. How can they now claim the homes were illegal?" he questioned. Mahendra's claim of PCMC officials accepting bribes to avoid action was also echoed by other residents, who said they also paid money to save their structures. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh told TOI that the action was carried out in accordance with the NGT order. "If residents submit a written complaint that they paid money to PCMC officials to avoid action, we will investigate the matter in detail. The strictest action will be initiated against those found involved. If the allegations are proved, the concerned officials can be suspended, and we can also register legal cases in the matter."
The Print
17-05-2025
- General
- The Print
Civic authorities raze 36 illegal riverside bungalows in Pimpri Chinchwad
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the civic body has started razing the bungalows as demolition drives cannot be carried out during the monsoon season. Officials and personnel from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) reached the site in Chikhali village in the morning, he said. Pune, May 17 (PTI) Civic authorities in the Pimpri Chinchwad suburb of Pune district on Saturday started demolishing 36 bungalows built illegally along the Indrayani River, an official said. He said, 'Owners of the land and bungalows had again approached the Supreme Court against the order passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). However, it disposed of their petition on May 4 and directed the PCMC to implement the order to demolish these structures.' Tanaji Gambhire, a local environmental activist, had moved the NGT against the River Villa project, citing that the bungalows were constructed within the blue line, an area adjacent to a riverbank where development activities are not permitted. The project by M/s Jare World and M/s V Square is in Chikhali village. On July 1, 2024, the NGT ordered the PCMC to demolish the illegal structures and collect Rs 5 crore as environmental damage compensation from the bungalow owners and other parties involved. The municipal commissioner said the civic body will also collect Rs 5 crore from the bungalow owners as environmental damage compensation soon. PTI SPK ARU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
