PUNE: Representatives of the Hadapsar industrial estate have claimed that joint action by the state irrigation department, Pune Municipal Corporation and police to remove squatters along a canal running through the area failed to bring about any change as they returned to their settlements minutes after the teams left the spot.
The authorities conducted the anti-encroachment drive on Friday on the land belonging to the irrigation department, with department officials saying that the settlements violate the flood lines demarcated along the canal.
“The situation went from bad to worse after the action by the authorities. The squatters came back almost immediately, and they have been threatening and verbally abusing us since then,” said Sandeep Kankariya, a member of the Hadapsar Industrial Association.
In a letter to various authorities, the association said the settlements came up during the night intervening August 29 and 30, adding that the people who have set up there are the cause of “anti-social” activities, including threats, alcohol consumption, and gambling dens. They added that previous complaints have not been adequately addressed.
“A few weeks ago, some of them broke a window of my vehicle, when I got into an argument with them regarding their activities in the area. Before these settlements came up, there have been encroachments and settlements near that spot by the canal, which have caused flooding and drainage issues. We have approached multiple authorities, but they have referred us to others,” said Sandeep Kankariya, one of the members of the association Since the irrigation department does not have a full-time anti-encroachment squad, they had to engage the PMC’s squad to execute the action, for which the irrigation department paid the civic body around Rs 1.4 lakh.
“Of course this is a problem we need to solve. We paid the PMC the required amount to carry out the anti-encroachment drive, but now it seems that the process needs to be done all over again. It is also not possible to erect a boundary wall overnight. We will approach the police over the next couple of days, and we shall try to figure out a solution,” said a senior irrigation department official.
Police had earlier said they were ready to provide support whenever the irrigation department and the PMC are ready.
Irrigation dept, PMC to hold joint survey along canal
Pune: The irrigation department and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are planning to hold a joint survey to identify encroachments along the 27km-long canal which passes through the city, from Sinhagad Road, Dattawadi, Swargate and Hadapsar.
Action will be initiated on basis of outcome of the survey. The irrigation officials said that a meeting will be held soon to chalk out a plan and further course of action.
Some encroachments were removed recently by the irrigation department along the canal in Hadapsar and Swargate area. Similar steps will be taken at other places, the irrigation officials said.
“Encroachments along the canal is a recurring issue. We will write to the PMC to initiate measures to ensure that both banks of the canal remain encroachment-free. There are some spots like Janata Vasahat, Swargate and Hadapsar where illegal huts and constructions come up. The PMC has a separate department and teams to keep an eye on encroachments and illegal constructions. We want the civic administration to conduct similar checks along the canal,” an official said.
Dhiraj Sangade, a local resident from Janata Vasahat area, said that the safety wall has been broken at various locations and the safety mesh is missing at many spots. The officials need to fix it to prevent encroachments.
