PMC tells cops to leave hospital in Hadapsar

Civic body cannot turn it into a CCC due to the crime branch office on premises

The 62-year-old Annasaheb Magar Hospital run by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in Hadapsar was supposed to be a COVID care centre (CCC), considering the huge number of coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) patients in the area.

However, in July, the health authority of PMC was forced to shift the venue in a municipal school which was much less equipped. The reason for this was Pune police refusing to vacate the hospital premises it has occupied for a couple of years, opening a crime branch office there.

Now, PMC has issued a notice to Pune police, demanding that they vacate the place as it has a plan to create a new COVID facility. However, the crime branch has refused to vacate, saying they cannot move at the time of the pandemic.

The police have occupied a major portion of the hospital and started a Unit-V office of the crime branch on temporary basis till the construction of their own building on a vacant land spread over 30,000 sq ft . However, despite repeated letters to vacate, the police refused to shift and have postponed the plan to construct their own building.

Chetan Tupe, the local corporator of the area, has raised the issue with the municipal commissioner and district collector, alleging that the police have illegally occupied the hospital.

Tupe, in his complaint, also mentioned that the hospital structure might come crashing down any moment due to a major leakage issue. On other end, the renovated part of the hospital is occupied by the crime branch. Talking to Mirror, Tupe said, “PMC has sent the notice to the cops, but they are behaving against the law. Without any compensation, they have been using the premises for years. Because of their presence, PMC cannot redevelop the land, nor are they able to expand the hospital as a COVID facility,” he added.

Pune police have other locations to relocate, including designated land near Vitthalrao Tupe auditorium, land near the flyover and the current Hadapsar police station building. Funds were also given by the district collector under the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) scheme. However, they still refuse to move. “This is nothing but an encroachment on civic land. We have also communicated this to home minister Anil Deshmukh,” Tupe said.

Dr Ramchandra Hankare, health chief of PMC, said, “We have issued eviction notices to the police as we are in the process of starting a dedicated COVID hospital for the locality with a dense population. This east suburb has no major hospitals, therefore modern hospitals are required.”

Ashok Morale, additional police commissioner (crime), said, “We are aware about the issue. After COVID-19 pandemic, we will shift to another place. However, at this time, it won’t be feasible. We will convey to the higher authorities to expedite the procedure.”

The Magar hospital was built in 1956 and is one of the first few civic-run medical facilities in the city. At present, people from marginal income groups from Ramtekdi, Vaiduwadi, Gosavi Vasti, Shinde Vasti, Malwadi, Sasane Nagar, Vetal Baba Vasahat, Pandhare Mala, Manjari and Mahatma Phule Colony are taking benefit of its outdoor patient department (OPD).