PUNE: A group of residents from Sangvi, who claim they are likely to be affected by PCMC‘s plan to start a demolition drive against constructions in blue floodlines, have formed a ‘Blue Line Residents Defence Committee‘ to fight against the move.
The residents claim the civic body should build a retaining wall along the river instead of demolishing their houses that have been there for over 30-40 years, as many people have spent their life earnings to construct a house or purchase a flat in the zone.
Residents have installed a banner in the Sangamnagar area of Sangvi, stating that they will vote against candidates of ruling political parties in Pimpri Chinchwad if their demands are not met. It may be noted that Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), during its ongoing survey, has identified over 2,500 structures in blue floodline areas across the twin cities, and plans to demolish these buildings as they are in the no-construction zone.
A senior member of the residents’ committee said they have mailed their concerns to chief minster Eknath Shinde and deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. “The office of Fadnavis said the matter has been forwarded to the chief secretary of the urban development department for further action,” a committee member told TOI.
He added, “We have formed committees at the local level for different areas. Members will campaign against three sitting MLAs of Pimpri Chinchwad ahead of the assembly elections if they do not intervene and get our demands fulfilled, as their parties are in power in the state. Besides, we are also approaching aspirants of opposition parties if they promise to help us if elected.”
Yuvraj Bille, another committee member, said, “Civic officials should build a retaining wall around the river instead of demolishing residential structures in which people have been living for decades and have spent their life savings on. Many residents are poor and have no place else to go.”
Reacting to the hullabaloo, BJP’s city president for Pimpri Chinchwad Shankar Jagtap — who is also eyeing a poll ticket from Chinchwad — said, “Our party’s office-bearers met residents on Sunday and assured them that we will find a way out to resolve their concerns. We have told them that we will not let their houses be demolished.”
A senior NCP (SCP) leader, who did not wish to be named, said, “We will meet the civic commissioner and urge him to find a way out that safeguards houses of these residents.”
