Pune: After High Court Order, PMC Launches Demolition Drive Against Encroachments Along Mutha River In Karvenagar
Pune, 27th June 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated action against illegal constructions along the Mutha riverbank in Karvenagar after the Bombay High Court ruling lifted the stay on their enforcement efforts.
The court dismissed a petition filed by landowners who had sought to prevent the municipal corporation from acting against constructions in the green belt of the Mutha river. This decision clears the way for the PMC to proceed with demolishing unauthorized structures in the area.
Concrete constructions, including businesses such as banquet halls, hotels, and garages, have been erected in the green belt adjacent to the riverbed near Rajaram Bridge in Karvenagar. Since construction in the green belt is prohibited, the PMC had issued notices to the concerned parties, warning them of impending action.
In 2023, 13 landowners filed a petition in the High Court to stop the PMC’s action. Initially, the court issued a stay on the civic body’s proceedings. However, during the latest hearing, the court took into account the PMC’s arguments regarding unauthorized constructions and commercial use of the green belt. Consequently, the court dismissed the landowners’ petition and lifted the stay.
Following the ruling, the PMC’s building permission department, accompanied by police personnel, began demolishing the illegal structures this morning. Utilizing JCB machines, gas cutters, and laborers, the operation aims to clear the green belt of unauthorized constructions promptly. The municipal authorities plan to complete the action swiftly to prevent the landowners from obtaining a stay from the Supreme Court.
Some landowners who did not file a petition had already demolished their constructions voluntarily and removed the sheds. For the remaining structures, the PMC is taking stringent measures to ensure compliance with the regulations.
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“The court’s decision reinforces the municipal corporation’s authority to maintain the green belt and prevent unauthorized constructions. We are committed to preserving the riverbank and ensuring that no illegal activities occur in these protected areas”, an officer from PMC told Punekar News.
