Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (
PMC) will file a criminal complaint for alleged use of an
excavator on a hilltop in Bavdhan, which falls under the biodiversity park (BDP) area.
Civic officials said construction activities cannot be carried out in the BDP areas.
"Our officers have visited the site already. PMC will file a criminal offence against those found using an excavator on the hilltop. Steps in that direction have already been initiated," Prashant Waghmare, city engineer, PMC, said.
The issue came to the fore after Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan and several residents complained to PMC about it. "If someone is doing any construction work or even digging in the BDP zone, then it is wrong. Strict action should be taken against those involved," Chavan said.
She said the officials, who have given permission for the work, should also be punished. They should be made to explain as to how and why they allowed it.
The use of excavator or JCB on the hilltop created quite a stir among the residents of Bavdhan. "The JCBs are being used on a plot that falls under the BDP area. Such activities are prohibited. We are concerned about the flora and fauna. It may lead to environmental damages," a resident, who witnessed the activity, said.
When TOI visited the site, workers present there claimed that the property was privately owned and they were working towards leveling the land.
Tushar Kale, owner of the property, said he was "not doing any construction activity on the premises". He added that he doesn't even plan to carry out any construction work there in the future either and was "only shifting the old rubble".
Kale said he has taken all the permissions to carry out the work. "We approached the authorities concerned and paid them the royalty for the work. No illegal work is being carried out on the plot," he said.
S H Gaikwad, talathi of Bavdhan, said, "Permissions can be given based on the type of land and the nature of the activity. Works such as leveling can be carried out. The staff members of the office will visit the site and give a report accordingly. The digging permission is not given by a talathi. It can only be granted by a tehsildar."
In November 2017, the state government had banned new construction within 100ft of the foothills across the state. The area will have to be maintained as an open space and reserved as a no-development zone. The state urban development department has directed all municipal corporations and councils across Maharashtra to implement the order.
The notification came two years after the Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal ruled that no permission must be granted for constructions on hilltops (where the slope ratio is 1:5) as well as 100ft around the foothills.
