PCMC all set to raze Red Zone structures

Householders and property owners in the Red Zone area around the Dighi Magazine Depot will have to seriously think about vacating their spaces.

PCMC all set to raze Red Zone structures

Householders and property owners in the Red Zone area around the Dighi Magazine Depot will have to seriously think about vacating their spaces. The civic body is in no mood to let up on its plan to demolish the illegal structures here.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has already applied to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) for police bandobast. The letter intimates the police about the impending action and requests police presence as the demolition can turn violent.

Dnyaneshwar Chavan said he had received a letter from the PCMC. "We need to survey the area to see the number of policemen required, identify the problem pockets where the situation can get out of hand. We have informed the Bhosari police station under whose jurisdiction the area falls about the action and the men to be deployed," said Chavan.

Date undecided
Ashish Sharma, municipal commissioner, PCMC, said that a final date would be fixed soon after the police complete the survey and decide upon resource mobilisation. "The police have to deploy men who have to perform their daily duties also. So, the demolition date will depend on their availability. We can carry out the demolition even tomorrow, but we need police protection" he said.

Sharma said deliberations were still underway with the defence authorities about reducing the Red Zone to 690m from a restricted area. All constructions within a radius of 1,145m from the Dighi Magazine Depot have been declared illegal. This has sent both the civic administration and the householders in a tizzy.

Furore erupted over the Red Zone issue when the defence authorities approached the municipal corporation to demolish illegal structures close to Dighi Magazine Depot. The move is set to displace about 20,000 people. Dilip Band, divisional commissioner, had actually ordered demolition of all establishments falling within 250m of the factory.

Structures falling within a stipulated radius of defence establishments are 'restricted' according to several sections of the Works of Defence Act.Local political leaders have also met officials from the Ministry of Defence to persuade it to relax the restriction to 250m.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels